Bill Nojay

William R. Nojay (born Nogaj; November 24, 1956 – September 9, 2016) was an American politician and member of the New York State Assembly.[1] He represented the 133rd Assembly District, which includes parts of Steuben and Monroe counties and all of Livingston County.[1]

Bill Nojay
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 133rd district
In office
January 1, 2013 – September 9, 2016
Preceded byDavid Gantt
Succeeded byJoseph Errigo
Personal details
Born
William Nogaj

(1956-11-24)November 24, 1956
Rochester, New York, U.S.
DiedSeptember 9, 2016(2016-09-09) (aged 59)
Rochester, New York, U.S.
Cause of deathSuicide
Political partyRepublican
Children3
Alma materColgate University (BA)
Columbia University (JD, MBA)
ProfessionPolitician, attorney

Early life and education

Nojay was born and raised in Rochester, New York,[2] where his father worked at Eastman Kodak.[1] His surname was originally "Nogaj", but he changed the spelling to match the pronunciation.[3] He earned a bachelor's degree from Colgate University and graduated from Columbia University with degrees from their law school and business school.[4]

Career

In 1996, Nojay was appointed by Governor George Pataki as commissioner of the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority.[1] He also served on the Executive Committee of the Genesee Transportation Council and as chairman of the Regional Trails Initiative Steering Committee for the Rochester region, and as chief operating officer of Detroit's transportation system under Mayor Dave Bing.[1]

Nojay supported several international democratic movements, working in Nepal, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Libya. He also worked extensively in Cambodia on behalf of the Khmer People's National Liberation Front, a right-wing opposition party to the People's Republic of Kampuchea regime. He was the director and secretary treasurer of the Foundation for Democracy in Iran.[5]

After redistricting, Nojay challenged and defeated Steuben County Legislator Randy Weaver, winning a vacant seat in the newly created 133rd Assembly District.[6] He also hosted a regionally syndicated conservative talk radio show, which predated his election to the state legislature. The program originated from WYSL.

Nojay supported Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, and he served as co-chair of its New York campaign committee.[2] He had asked Trump to run for governor of New York in 2013.[2]

Death

On September 9, 2016, Nojay committed suicide by firearm near his family's plot at Riverside Cemetery in Rochester, New York.[2][7] He was due in court that day to face fraud charges related to his legal work, which were subsequently sealed.[3][8]

Nojay was already running for re-election as assemblyman, and the following Tuesday, September 14, 2016, he posthumously defeated Richard Milne, his challenger in the primary election for the Republican nomination.[9] As a result, a Republican party committee selected former Assemblyman Joseph Errigo to replace Nojay in the general election, which Errigo won.[10][11]

Assembly committees
  • Committee on Cities
  • Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection
  • Committee on Election Law
  • Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development
  • Committee on Transportation

References
  1. "Bill Nojay: Biography". New York State Assembly. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  2. Yee, Vivian (September 9, 2016). "Bill Nojay, Upstate Assemblyman, Dies After Shooting Himself at a Cemetery". New York Times. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  3. Sharp, Brian; Spector, Joseph (September 9, 2016). "Assemblyman Bill Nojay commits suicide near family graves". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  4. "Bill Nojay". www.ny-leg.com. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  5. "Bill Nojay | For 133rd NYS Assembly". billnojay.com. Archived from the original on August 3, 2015. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  6. Simon, Neal (November 7, 2012). "Nojay wins Assembly seat, defeats Weaver in 133rd district". The Evening Tribune. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  7. Lovett, Kenneth (September 10, 2016). "Upstate Assemblyman Bill Nojay dies in apparent suicide". New York Daily News. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  8. Staff (September 9, 2016). "RPD: NYS Assemblyman Bill Nojay died by suicide". WHAM. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  9. "NY GOP Lawmaker Wins Primary Days After Killing Himself". New York Times. Associated Press. September 14, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  10. Murphy, Justin. "Errigo, Bronson, Johns Win in Assembly". democratandchronicle.com. Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  11. "GOP Chairmen Pick Replacement for Dead Primary Winner". New York Times. Associated Press. September 14, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
New York State Assembly
Preceded by
David F. Gantt		 New York State Assembly, 133rd District
January 1, 2013 – September 9, 2016		 Vacant
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