Barbara J. Fiala

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Barbara J. Fiala

| image =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1944|05|13}}

| birth_place = Binghamton, New York

| spouse = Anthony Fiala Sr

| children = Jim Fiala, Anthony Fiala Jr

| parents =

| alma_mater = Broome Community College
Binghamton University

| residence = Endicott, New York, U.S.

| office = Commissioner of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles

| term_start = 2011

| term_end = 2014

| office2 = 6th Broome County Executive

| term_start2 = 2005

| term_end2 = 2010

| predecessor2 = Jeffrey P. Kraham

| successor2 = Patrick J. Brennan

| office3 = Broome County Clerk

| term_start3 = 1999

| term_end3 = 2004

| party = Democratic

| occupation =

| website = http://www.barbfiala.com

| succeeded = Mark J. F. Schroeder

| preceded = David Swarts

| 1blankname = Governor

| 1namedata = Andrew Cuomo

}}

Barbara J. Fiala is the former Commissioner of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles and County Executive of Broome County, New York.{{cite news|last1=Adams|first1=Stephen|date=July 30, 2015|title=Barbara Fiala formally announces bid for State Senate|url=http://www.wbng.com/news/local/Barbara-Fiala-formally-announces-bid-for-state-Senate-320231811.html|work=WBNG|accessdate=6 August 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820023914/http://www.wbng.com/news/local/Barbara-Fiala-formally-announces-bid-for-state-Senate-320231811.html|archive-date=August 20, 2016}} Fiala also served as Broome County Clerk from 1999 to 2004. She was the first female County Executive of Broome County and served as President of the New York State Association of County Executives.{{cite news|last1=Katz|first1=Celeste|date=February 9, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808041618/http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/gov-cuomo-schenectady-brian-stratton-canal-corp-broome-barbara-fiala-dmv-blog-entry-1.1683053|archive-date=August 8, 2016|title=Gov. Cuomo: Schenectady's Brian Stratton For Canal Corp.; Broome's Barbara Fiala For DMV|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/gov-cuomo-schenectady-brian-stratton-canal-corp-broome-barbara-fiala-dmv-blog-entry-1.1683053|work=Daily News|location=New York|accessdate=6 August 2015}} On July 30, 2015, Fiala officially announced her candidacy for the New York State Senate's 52nd district. The seat became vacant after then-Senator Thomas W. Libous was convicted of a Federal felony of lying to the FBI. Fiala was defeated in the November election by Fred Akshar, the Republican nominee.{{cite news |last=Hamilton |first=Matthew |date=November 3, 2015 |title=Fred Akshar cruises to victory over Barbara Fiala in 52nd Senate District |url=http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/242669/fred-akshar-cruises-to-victory-over-barbara-fiala-in-52nd-senate-district/ |newspaper=Times-Union |location=Albany, NY}}

Political career

=Broome County Executive=

Fiala served as Broome County Executive from 2005 until 2010, when she was appointed Commissioner of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.{{cite news|date=February 9, 2011|title=Fiala To Head DMV|url=http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2011/02/09/fiala-to-head-dmv/|work=Politics on the Hudson|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110025227/http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2011/02/09/fiala-to-head-dmv/|archive-date=January 10, 2015}} She was elected in 2004 and re-elected in 2008. During her tenure as County Executive, the Greater Binghamton Transportation Center was developed, the George Harvey Justice Building was refurbished, and a number of small business development programs were launched. Fiala touts bipartisan cooperation as the reason for her accomplishments as County Executive.

=Commissioner of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles=

Fiala was appointed Commissioner of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles in 2011, and served until the end of 2014.{{cite news|last1=Campbell|first1=Jon|date=December 31, 2014|title=NY's DMV commissioner calls it quits|url=http://www.pressconnects.com/story/news/local/new-york/2014/12/31/barbara-fiala-retires-dmv-commissioner/21097457/|work=Press & Sun-Bulletin}} During her tenure, the state placed a higher priority on online services. The DMV website was redesigned and many motor vehicle transactions were added to the website. Additionally, the DMV launched lifetime adventure licenses for hunting, fishing, skiing, and boating.{{cite web|date=February 12, 2014|title=Governor Cuomo Promotes NYS Lifetime Adventure License Series for Hunting, Fishing and Visiting NY State Parks|url=http://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-promotes-nys-lifetime-adventure-license-series-hunting-fishing-and-visiting-ny|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109203307/http://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-promotes-nys-lifetime-adventure-license-series-hunting-fishing-and-visiting-ny|archive-date=January 9, 2015}} The adventure license offered New York residents a chance to list all adventure licenses on their drivers license, and the adventure licenses do not expire.

=Campaign for New York State Senate=

Upon the conviction of former New York State Senator Thomas W. Libous, Fiala announced her candidacy for the vacated senate seat. She launched her campaign for the November 2015 special election in July promising to bring jobs to the Southern Tier. Fiala said, "The one major issue here in the Southern Tier is jobs, good-paying jobs."

In November 2015 Fiala was defeated in the State Senate election by Republican Fred Akshar.

Electoral history

{{Election box begin no change|title=General Election November 2, 2004,
Broome County Executive{{cite web|title=2004 Broome County Election Results|url=http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/themes/52dd2a8401925b441c000002/attachments/original/1395170980/2004_GENERAL_ELECTION_RESULTS.pdf?1395170980}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Barbara Fiala

|votes = 40,739

|percentage = 43.99

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Working Families Party

|candidate = Barbara Fiala

|votes = 2,689

|percentage = 2.90

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Jeff Kraham (Incumbent)

|votes = 39,711

|percentage = 42.88

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Conservative Party of New York

|candidate = Jeff Kraham

|votes = 2,047

|percentage = 2.21

}}

{{Election box candidate no change|

|party = Other

|candidate = Blank/Void

|votes = 7,418

|percentage = 8.01

}}

{{Election box total no change|

|votes = 92,604

|percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=General Election November 4, 2008,
Broome County Executive{{cite web|title=2008 Broome County Election Results|url=http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/themes/52dd2a8401925b441c000002/attachments/original/1395171017/2008_GENERAL_ELECTION_RESULTS.PDF?1395171017}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Barbara Fiala (Incumbent)

|votes = 41,910

|percentage = 46.69

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Independence Party of New York

|candidate = Barbara Fiala

|votes = 3,986

|percentage = 4.40