Antoine Thompson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Antoine Thompson
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Thompson speaks at a Barack Obama rally at the Erie County Democratic Headquarters (October 29, 2008)
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| Member of the New York State Senate from the 60th district |
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| In office January 3, 2007 – January 2, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Marc Coppola |
| Succeeded by | Mark Grisanti |
| Member of the Buffalo Common Council from the Masten District | |
| In office January 4, 2001 – January 3, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Byron Brown |
| Succeeded by | Demone Smith |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 1, 1970 Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | State University of New York at Brockport |
Antoine Maurice Thompson (born March 1, 1970) is an American politician from Buffalo, New York. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Thompson served as a State Senator for New York's 60th District from 2007 to 2011. Before that, he was a councilman on the Buffalo Common Council from 2001 to 2007.
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About Antoine Thompson
Antoine Thompson was born in Buffalo, New York. He grew up in Buffalo and went to public schools there. He graduated from Bennett High School. In 1994, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in history. He studied at the State University of New York at Brockport.
Thompson is married to Tracey Thompson. They have two children, Deja LaShay and Joseph Antoine Alexander Thompson. In high school, he was a captain for both the cross-country and track & field teams. He also earned special honors in both sports.
Early Career in Public Service
Thompson started his career in public service in 1996. For two years, he worked as an assistant for the Buffalo Common Council. The Common Council is a group of elected officials. They help make decisions for the city.
In 1998, he became the executive director of the Office of Urban Initiatives. This group helps improve business chances for minority-owned businesses. It also works to develop communities.
Serving on the Buffalo Common Council
On January 4, 2001, Thompson became a Common Councilman for the Masten District. He was chosen for this role by the Democratic Committee. His district included a large part of Buffalo's African American population.
As a councilman, Thompson worked on important issues for his community. He spoke out against crime and worked to improve the economy. He also supported job training programs and public parks. He helped create a resolution against the war in Iraq. Thompson was re-elected to his council position in 2001, 2003, and 2005.
Running for Higher Office
In 2005, Thompson thought about running for a higher political position. He raised money for campaigns and talked with party leaders. He considered running for a seat in the United States House of Representatives.
Later, he decided to run for a New York State Senate seat. This seat became open when Byron Brown became the Mayor of Buffalo. Thompson ran in the November 2006 general election. He won the Democratic Primary election against two other candidates. Then, he won the general election against Marc Coppola, who ran as an Independent.
As a New York State Senator
Antoine Thompson became a New York State Senator in January 2007. He was chosen to lead the New York Democratic Senate Campaign Committee. This committee helps other Democratic candidates get elected.
Thompson was the Chairman of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee. This committee works on laws to protect the environment. He also served on other important committees. These included Finance, Economic Development, Tourism, and Veterans Affairs.
As a senator, Thompson worked to bring new life to communities. He focused on cleaning up and redeveloping old industrial sites. He also supported making it easier for businesses owned by minorities and women to get certified. Thompson voted in favor of same-sex marriage legislation in 2009. He also opposed fracking, which is a way to get natural gas from the ground.
Thompson ran for re-election in 2010. After a close election and a recount, he lost to Mark Grisanti.
Current Activities
As of 2025, Antoine Thompson is the Executive Director of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB). This is the largest group of African-American real estate professionals in the United States.
Thompson also used to host a weekly radio show called Western New York on the Move. It was broadcast on WUFO 1080 AM.
In November 2023, Thompson applied to serve in the Maryland House of Delegates. This was to fill a vacant seat. However, another person was chosen for that position in December 2023.
See also
- 2009 New York State Senate leadership crisis
