Oswego County's: Guide To Government

Ray T. Chesbro

Ray T. Chesbro, Republican, was born and raised on a farm in Pennellville, in the Town of Schroeppel Oswego County. He reeived his education in the Phoenix Central School District. Mr. Chesbro attended the Southern Tier Law Enforce-ment Academy at Corning Community College and the Criminal Investigation School sponsored by the Central New York Academy for Police Training at Syracuse University. He began his work experience as a laborer at Nestle in Fulton, New York, and also gained experience as a mason, carpenter and electrician.

Appointed Deputy Sheriff of Oswego County in 1953, Mr. Chesbro later became Identification Officer, Investigator and Lieutenant. In 1973, he was appointed as Sheriff of Oswego County by the late Governor Nelson Rockefeller. Mr. Chesbro was elected to that same position in 1974 and retired in 1977. Mr. Chesbro was active on the Phoenix Central School District's Board of Education for seventeen years, as a member, Vice President and President. He also served on the Oswego County Board of Cooperative Educational Services from 1967 to 1971. In 1979, he was appointed by Governor Hugh L. Carey as a Director of the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority; he served this position until 1982.

Mr. Chesbro was married in 1947 to the former Eileen Audas, and resides in Phoenix, New York. They have three sons: Gary W., Ray L., and Scott B., as well as four grandchildren. Mr. Chesbro has remained active in several Community activities, including the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 622 F&AM in Central Square, United Methodist Church in Pennellville, Phoenix Sno-Drifters, the Na-tional Legislators Association, Central New York Rod and Gun Club and the Pathfinder Rod and Gun Club.

Mr. Chesbro was first elected to the New York State Assembly in 1980. He represented all of Oswego County, the towns of Vienna, Verona, Camden and five election districts in the City of Rome, Oneida County. In 1982, as a result of redistricting, the 117th Assembly District changed its boundaries to include only the County of Oswego. Mr Chesbro was re-elected in 1984, 1986 and again in 1988.

Mr. Chesbro has served on the following Committees: Aging, Agriculture; Codes, Education, Oversight and Analysis, Transportation and Ranking Minority Member of the House Operations Committee. He also served on the Subcommittee for Volunteer Firemen and a member of the Assembly Minority Task Force on Missing Children and the Minority Task Force on Welfare and Medicaid Reform. He now serves as a member of the Agriculture and Tourism, Arts and Sports Development Committees, as well as Ranking Minority Member of the House Operations Committee.

Vote in 1988 General Election
Ray T. Chesbro, Rep. 27,044; Con. 3,157
New York State Red Book 1989-1990 Page 224