James Maisano

Westchester County Board of Legislators

Legislator-District 11

Jim Maisano was elected to the Board of Legislators in November 1997, and re-elected in 1999 and 2001. His District includes a large portion of the City of New Rochelle and all of the Town of Pelham. He is the Board's Minority Leader, as well as a member of the Legislation, Environment and Labor Committees. He also chairs the Subcommittee on the Long Island Sound, in recognition of his diligent efforts to protect and enhance this magnificent natural resource.

As a Legislator, Jim has concentrated his efforts on certain key issues: reducing taxes while maintaining high quality services; protecting the quality of life of neighborhoods in New Rochelle and Pelham; ensuring clean air and clean water; protecting open space for all Westchester residents; and promoting open and responsible government while expanding citizen participation.

Jim was born in Brooklyn, New York on February 15, 1963 to James and Loretta Maisano. The Maisano Family with their four children moved to New Rochelle in 1964.

In 1996, Jim married the former Jean Barno who is Director of Special Events for the Greater New York Chapter of the March of Dimes. Jim and Jean live in New Rochelle and are members of Holy Name Parish. They have a son, Michael.

Jim served in the United States Marine Corps from 1984 to 1988. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the Marine Unit Commendation, Naval Unit Commendation, Noncommissioned Officer School Leadership Award and Meritorious Mast. Jim was honorably discharged from the Marines as a Platoon Sergeant.

Jim attended grammar school at Saints John and Paul School in Larchmont and high school at Iona Prep in New Rochelle. He graduated in 1989 from the City University of New York at Hunter College where he majored in History and Political Science. Jim was the Student Commencement Speaker at his graduation in 1992 from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law.

After law school, Jim worked in commercial litigation at the New York City law firm of Santora & Greenfield. He later worked at the Law Offices of Michael E. Pressman, where he practiced in the area of insurance defense litigation. During this time, Jim was the President of the Westchester County Young Republicans and a member of the Executive Committee of the Young Republican National Federation.

In the spring of 1995, Jim took a leave of absence from his law firm to run for Mayor of New Rochelle. After losing an exciting race, Jim opened his own general practice law firm in downtown New Rochelle. In the fall of 1995, he began a weekly radio show on the New Rochelle radio station, WVOX, which can be heard every Friday morning at 10 A.M. In 2003, Jim moved his law practice to Buchanan Ingersoll in New York City.

Jim is a member of many civic and professional organizations, including the New Rochelle Lions Club, Bronx-New Rochelle Elks Lodge #756, New Rochelle Chamber of Commerce, Casa Calabria Mutual Aid Society, Marine Corps League, Adirondack Mountain Club, Westchester Bar Association and the New Rochelle Bar Association.