John D. Caemmerer

John D. Caemmerer (1928 - February 7, 1982) was was a New York State Senator representing what is now the 7th Senatorial District in northwestern Nassau County, New York.

Early Life & Career

John Caemmerer was born and raised int he Village of Williston Park. He was educated in local public schools prior to attending Regis High School in Manhattan and later Notre Dame University and St. John's Law School. Prior to serving as a State Senator Caemmerer had served as Deputy Town Attorney for the Town of North Hempstead as well as Village Attorney for the Incorporated Village of Williston Park. Both before and after being elected to the New York State Senate Caemmerer was a principal in the law firms, Pratt, Caemmerer, & Cleary and later Farrell, Fritz, Caemmerer, Cleary, Barnosky, & Armentano. During this time Caemmerer served as a local Republican Leader and eventually North Hempstead Republican Committee Chairman from 1966 - 1972 in the Nassau County Republican Committee.

State Senate Tenure

Caemmerer was first elected to the New York State Senate in a special election in 1965 following the Supreme Court's ruling in regards to "one man, one vote" decision. Caemmerer first served as the Chairman of the State Senate's Committee on Villages and Local Government. After the death of State Senator Edward J. Speno, Caemmerer became Chairman of the Senate's Committee on Transportation in 1972. Caemmerer served in this capacity until his death in February 1982. While Chairman Caemmerer worked to increase penalties on drunk drivers while lowering the maximum allowable blood alcohol content from .15 to eventually .10 in New York State. Caemmerer was also the first New York State Legislator to propose a mandatory seatbelt law in the state. Caemmerer was also involved in the first MTA capital plan for New York State. Many in the Senate feel that Caemmerer's crowning achievement was the passage of the child seat law in 1981. Caemmerer served in the Senate and as Chair of the Transportation Committee until his death from cancer in February of 1982.

Sources

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