Marcia Tuohey named ‘Woman of Distinction’ by NYS

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 May 2013 at 12:00 am

Medina resident was first woman to serve as mayor, legislator

Courtesy of State Sen. George Maziarz’s office – State Sen. George Maziarz stands with Marcia Tuohey in Albany on Tuesday when she was recognized as a “Woman of Distinction.”

MEDINA – Marcia Tuohey, the first woman to serve as Medina’s mayor and then chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature, was recognized in Albany as a “Woman of Distinction.”

Tuohey was nominated for the award by state Sen. George Maziarz, who picked her from his district that also includes a portion of Monroe County and nearly all of Niagara.

“Marcia has been a mainstay in business and government in Orleans County for many years,” Maziarz said.“More that than though, she’s been a trailblazer for women who want to take an active role in improving their communities. She has worn many hats – literally and figuratively – but today our hats are off to her.”

Tuohey often appears at public events in stylish hats. She currently represents Orleans County on the board of directors for Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. She also is a member of Medina’s Planning Board.

Before she ran for the Village Board, she enjoyed an active business career in Medina for 30 years as the co-owner and operator of a nursing home, motel and restaurant, mobile home park, and rental properties.Her success can be attributed to a great aptitude for recognizing and meeting the needs of the community, and possessing a strong work ethic, Maziarz said.

Tuohey was first elected as a trustee in Medina in 1979, and in 1982 she became the village’s first woman mayor.In 1990, she became Orleans County’s first female county legislator, and then was picked by her peers on the seven-member body to serve as chairman of the Legislature from 1996 until 2006.

Maziarz said Tuohey’s “forceful advocacy and close supervision” pushed several projects along in the county, including renovations to the historic Courthouse and County Clerks buildings, an addition to the County Nursing Home, and the creation of a new Public Safety Center and Fire Training Facility.

During her time in office, Tuohey also helped lay the groundwork for the expansion of Genesee Community College in Orleans County and the construction of an ethanol plant in the Town of Shelby, Maziarz said.

Tuohey was honored at a reception in Albany on Tuesday, where her photograph and biography were on display during a special public exhibit at the Legislative Office Building.

The Senate’s “Woman of Distinction” program was created in 1998 to honor women who exemplify personal excellence, or whose professional achievements or acts of courage, selflessness, integrity or perseverance serve as an example to all New Yorkers.