Assemblyman David F. Gantt 133rd Assembly District (Part of Monroe County)
David F. Gantt has served since 1983 as the representative of the 133rd Assembly District, which consists of the northeastern and southwestern sections of the City of Rochester and the Suburban Town of Gates.
Born September 12, 1941, David Gantt attended Franklin High School, Roberts Wesleyan College and the Rochester Institute of Technology. His professional experiences has included employment as a Youth Counselor for the City of Rochester, working as a memb er of Lithographers & Photoengravers International Union Local 230, and at the Anthony I. Jordan Health Center.
A longtime resident of the City of Rochester, Mr. Gantt followed his mother, Lena M. Gantt, into a life of public service and community advocacy. This commitment to public service has included Mr. Gantt's membership on the Board of Directors of the Baden Street Settlement, the Board of the marketview Heights Association and the Board of Directors of the Anthony I. Jordan Health Center.
Prior to his Assembly election, Mr. Gantt served nine years in the Monroe County Legislature. There he represented the 22nd Legislative District, which includes parts of Rochester's Group 14621, Marketview Heights and CONEA neighborhoods, while in the Co unty Legislature, Mr. Gantt served as Assistant Majority Leader, Chairman of the Public Safety Committee, Vice-Chairman of the Finance & Budget Committee and Ranking Minority Member of the Human Services Committee. After initiating a Federal Redistricting suit that ultimately created the 133rd Assembly District, Mr. Gantt became the first black from Monroe County elected to hold state office. Always active in civic affairs, David Gantt has been honored by such orga nizations as the Upstairs Youth Agency, the Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, the Baken Street Settlement, the Webster Avenue Family Resource Center, the Monroe County Public Defender's Office, the Monroe County Board of Elections and the New York State Associat ion of Countries.
As a member of the State Assembly, Mr. Gantt's tenure has been marked by his concern for the development of affordable housing, health care and services for the young and the elderly, voter registration and education, and the promotion of minority busines ses. He is the author of numerous bills enacted into state law, including a statewide law requiring all newly constructed public theaters, auditoriums and meeting places to be equipped with systems to aid people with hearing impairments, a statewide law aimed at driving drug dealers out of residential neighborhoods; a law designed to help undercover law enforcement officials crack down on narcotics dealers; a law which enhances the economic development opportunities of municipalities throughout New York State; and numerous laws which ensure equal access to voters at their local polling places.
Mr. Gantt currently serves as Chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee. He Chairs both the Assembly Sub-committee on Affordable Housing and the Subcommittee on Voter Registration and he is a member of the Assembly standing Committees on; Commerce, Industry, and Economic Development; Corporation, Authorities and Commissions; Election.
