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 for the Masten District 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 there and went to public schools, including Bennett High School. In high school, he was the captain of both the cross-country and track & field teams. He also earned special honors in both sports.
He later graduated from the State University of New York at Brockport in 1994. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in history. Antoine is married to Tracey Thompson and they have two children, Deja LaShay and Joseph Antoine Alexander Thompson.
Early Career in Politics
Thompson began 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 who make laws and decisions for the city.
In 1998, he became the executive director of the Office of Urban Initiatives. This organization works to help communities grow and create better business opportunities for minority groups.
Serving on the Buffalo Common Council
On January 4, 2001, Antoine Thompson became a Common Councilman for the Masten District in Buffalo. 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 focused on reducing crime and improving the economy. He also supported efforts to create jobs and improve public parks. He even worked with another council member to pass a resolution against continued military involvement in the Iraq War. Thompson was re-elected to his council position in 2001, 2003, and 2005.
Running for State Senate
In 2006, Thompson decided to run for a seat in the New York State Senate. This was a big step up in his political career. He faced a tough primary election against two other candidates, including the current Senator, Marc Coppola, and his cousin, Al Coppola. Thompson won the primary election with 53% of the votes. He then went on to win the general election against Marc Coppola, who ran as an independent candidate.
New York State Senator
When Antoine Thompson became a State Senator in January 2007, he took on important leadership roles. He became the Chairman of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee. This committee works on laws and policies related to protecting the environment.
He also served on several other important committees, including:
- Finance
- Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business
- Tourism, Recreation and Sports Development
- Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs
As a State Senator, Thompson focused on bringing economic growth to his district. He worked on redeveloping "brownfield land," which are old industrial sites that can be cleaned up and reused. He also spoke out against raising State Senator salaries when city workers in Buffalo were not getting raises. Thompson supported making it easier for businesses owned by minorities and women to get certified. He also opposed fracking, a method of extracting natural gas. In 2009, he voted in favor of a bill that would allow same-sex marriage, but the bill did not pass at that time.
In 2010, Thompson ran for re-election but lost to Mark Grisanti.
Other Activities
Antoine Thompson continues to be active in his community and in real estate. As of 2018, he has served as the Executive Director of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB). This is the largest organization for African-American real estate professionals in the United States.
He also used to host a weekly radio show called Western New York on the Move. The show was broadcast on WUFO 1080 AM. In late 2023, Thompson applied to fill a vacant seat in the Maryland House of Delegates, showing his continued interest in public service.
See also
- 2009 New York State Senate leadership crisis
