Fred Akshar

Frederick J. Akshar II is an American Republican politician from the State of New York. Since November 2015, Akshar has represented District 52 in the New York State Senate.[1]

Fred Akshar
Member of the New York State Senate
from the 52nd district
Assumed office
November 4, 2015
Preceded byTom Libous
Personal details
Political partyRepublican
ResidenceEndwell, New York
Alma materBroome Community College
WebsiteOfficial website

Background

Akshar grew up in Afton the Southern Tier region of New York. He graduated from Broome Community College as well as the FBI Academy.[2]

A law enforcement officer, Akshar worked at the Chenango County Sheriff's Office and the Broome County Sheriff's Office. His work in law enforcement spanned 15 years, and he served as Captain of the Law Enforcement Division at the Broome County Sheriff's Office.[3] Akshar was named undersheriff of Broome County in June 2015.[4] Prior to his election to the New York State Senate, he also served on the Crime Victims Assistance Center Board and the Broome Opioid Abuse Council.[5]

New York State Senate

In 2015, long-serving State Senator Tom Libous forfeited his Senate seat after being found guilty of lying to the federal authorities.[6] As a result, a special election was called in Senate District 52, and the Republican Party nominated Akshar (a political novice) to replace Libous.[7] While Democrats targeted the seat and ran former Broome County Executive Barbara Fiala against him, Akshar received nearly 78% of the vote and defeated Fiala easily.[8] He was re-elected in 2016[9] and 2018.[10]

In July 2018, Akshar's staff confirmed that Akshar was "in a relationship with Jessica Williams, who until last week was on Akshar's payroll as his director of administration." A report indicated that Williams had "received eight salary increases and three promotions during her roughly 2½ years on Akshar's payroll, rising from a part-timer making $32,600 in 2015 to a full-timer making $85,000 today".[11]

Akshar was appointed chair of the Senate Republican Campaign Committee in December 2018, replacing Sen. Catharine Young. Young had attempted to oust Senate Republican Leader John J. Flanagan from his leadership position in November 2018, and Akshar had supported Flanagan.[12]

In January 2019, The New York Times noted Akshar's frustration with the continuing push for transgender rights; when "State Senator Jessica Ramos...said lawmakers should go even further to help transgender New Yorkers," Akshar responded, "Jesus Christ! Further?"[13]

On January 23, 2019, Akshar voted against the NY DREAM Act, which passed both houses of the State Legislature. The bill would extend state financial aid to undocumented immigrant students who were brought to the United States as children.[14]

Personal life

During his 2015 campaign for New York State Senate, Akshar's opponent accused him of unethical behavior in connection with a 2009 motor vehicle accident involving the nephew of his then-girlfriend, Kate Newcomb. Akshar denied wrongdoing,[15] and no charges were filed following an investigation.[16]

In November 2016, PressConnects.com described Kate Newcomb, a captain in the Broome County Sheriff's Office, as Akshar's longtime girlfriend.[17]

As of July 2018, Akshar was dating former staffer Jessica Williams.[11] He announced his engagement to Jessica Fiacco (also known as Jessica Williams) in December 2018.[18]

In April 2019, Akshar was accused of engaging in an inappropriate relationship with the mother of a murder victim. At that time, Akshar acknowledged having had a "brief, consensual relationship" with Mirella Masciarelli some years earlier. Masciarelli was the mother of Mario Masciarelli, whose 2013 murder Akshar had helped to investigate; Akshar also testified at a pretrial hearing in the case. Masciarelli described Akshar as a "predator" who "'interjected himself into [her] life in a way that...was not professional as a captain in the Broome County Sheriff's Office'" and took advantage of her grief over the loss of her son. Akshar denied any wrongdoing and accused Masciarelli of engaging in an "attempted smear campaign".[19]

As of January 2019, Akshar resides in Endwell, New York.[20]

References
  1. Joseph, Bob. "Senator Akshar Returns to Law Enforcement on Part-Time Basis". WNBF News Radio 1290.
  2. "Akshar: 'Serving the community' is behind senate run". Press&Sun Bulletin. 2015-10-24. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  3. "Akshar sworn in as new Undersheriff". Binghamton Homepage. 2015-06-25. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  4. "Sen. Fred Akshar had relations with victim's mother in murder case he supervised". Pressconnects.
  5. "Akshar among state lawmakers to host opioid epidemic discussion". Pressconnects. Retrieved 2019-02-06.
  6. "State Senator Tom Libous found guilty of lying to the FBI". New York Post. 2015-07-22. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  7. "Akshar tapped as GOP candidate for Senate". Press & Sun Bulletin. 2015-08-03. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  8. "Akshar wins race for NYS 52nd Senate District". WBNG. 2015-11-05. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  9. "New York 52nd District State Senate Results: Frederick Akshar Wins". 1 August 2017 – via NYTimes.com.
  10. a_tu (6 November 2018). "State Senate general election results 2018". CSNY.
  11. "New York Sen. Fred Akshar dating former staffer whose pay jumped". Pressconnects.
  12. [email protected], Robert Harding. "Flanagan taps supporters to NY Senate GOP leadership posts, dumps Young". Auburn Citizen.
  13. "Democrats in Albany Let the Good Times Roll". 2019-01-16. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
  14. Whyte, Kathy. "Dream Act Passes NY Legislature, Sen. Akshar Votes "No"". WNBF News Radio 1290.
  15. "Fiala accuses Akshar of cover-up". BINGHAMTONHOMEPAGE. 16 October 2015.
  16. Staff, FOX 40. "No Charges For Akshar, Newcomb". www.wicz.com.
  17. "2016 Election Preview: Hot local races". Pressconnects.
  18. Joseph, Bob. "Tweet Love: Akshar Announces Engagement on Social Media". WNBF News Radio 1290.
  19. "Sen. Fred Akshar had relations with victim's mother in murder case he supervised as Broome County sheriff". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
  20. "State Sen. Fred Akshar asks NY constituents about legalizing recreational marijuana". Pressconnects. Retrieved 2019-02-06.
Political offices
Preceded by
Tom Libous		 New York State Senate, 52nd District
2015–present		 Incumbent
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