Bill Nojay

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Bill Nojay

| image = File:AssemblymanBillNojayBeforeConesusTownMemorialDayParadeB.JPG

| state_assembly = New York

| district = 133rd

| term_start = January 1, 2013

| term_end = September 9, 2016

| predecessor = David Gantt

| successor = Joseph Errigo

| birth_name = William Nogaj

| birth_date = {{birth date|1956|11|24}}

| birth_place = Rochester, New York, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2016|9|9|1956|11|24}}

| death_place = Rochester, New York, U.S.

| death_cause = Suicide by gunshot

| party = Republican

| children = 3

| alma_mater = Colgate University (BA)
Columbia University (JD, MBA)

| profession = Politician, attorney

| footnotes =

}}

William R. Nojay (born Nogaj; November 24, 1956 – September 9, 2016){{Cite web|url=https://www.rochesterfirst.com/news/nojay-obituary-2/|title=Nojay Obituary|website=rochesterfirst.com|date=September 13, 2016}} was an American Republican politician and member of the New York State Assembly. Nojay represented the 133rd Assembly District, which included parts of Steuben and Monroe Counties and all of Livingston County, from 2013 to 2016.

Early life and education

Nojay was born and raised in Rochester, New York,{{cite news|last1=Yee|first1=Vivian|title=Bill Nojay, Upstate Assemblyman, Dies After Shooting Himself at a Cemetery|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/10/nyregion/bill-nojay-rochester-assemblyman-dies.html?_r=0|accessdate=September 14, 2016|newspaper=New York Times|date=September 9, 2016}} where his father worked at Eastman Kodak. His surname was originally "Nogaj", but he changed the spelling to match the pronunciation.{{Cite web|url=http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2016/09/09/bill-nojay-dies-assemblyman-radio-show-host/90119840/|title=Assemblyman Bill Nojay commits suicide near family graves|last1=Sharp|first1=Brian|last2=Spector|first2=Joseph|date=September 9, 2016|website=Democrat and Chronicle|publisher=|access-date=September 9, 2016}} He earned a bachelor's degree from Colgate University and graduated from Columbia University with degrees from its law school and business school.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ny-leg.com/directory/NY/bill-nojay/3744/|title=Bill Nojay|last=|first=|date=|website=www.ny-leg.com|publisher=|access-date=September 9, 2016|url-access=subscription }}

Career

Nojay was a conservative talk radio host. He also worked at a brokerage firm.{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Bill-Nojay-conservative-assemblyman-59-9214227.php|title=Bill Nojay, conservative assemblyman, 59|website=timesunion.com|first=Matthew|last=Hamilton|date=September 10, 2016}}

In 1996, Nojay was appointed by Governor George Pataki as commissioner of the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority. He also served on the Executive Committee of the Genesee Transportation Council and as chairman of the Regional Trails Initiative Steering Committee for the Rochester region, and as chief operating officer of Detroit's transportation system under Mayor Dave Bing.

Nojay represented Brian Kolb in connection with a 2000 special election in which Kolb was first elected to the Assembly.

After redistricting, Nojay defeated Democratic Steuben County Legislator Randy Weaver in 2012 to win a vacant seat in the newly redrawn 133rd Assembly District.{{Cite news|title=Nojay wins Assembly seat, defeats Weaver in 133rd district|last=Simon|first=Neal|date=November 7, 2012|work=The Evening Tribune}} He was re-elected in 2014 without opposition.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2014/new-york-elections|title=New York Election Results|via=NYTimes.com|date=December 17, 2014}}

Nojay was a Republican. A gun rights supporter, Nojay was an outspoken opponent of the 2013 New York gun control law known as the SAFE Act. He organized a 2013 pro-Second Amendment concert called Freedompalooza.

Nojay supported Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, and he served as co-chair of its New York campaign committee. He had asked Trump to run for governor of New York.

Personal life and death

A resident of Pittsford, New York, Nojay was married and had three children.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2016/09/10/upstate-assemblyman-bill-nojay-dies-in-apparent-suicide-before-slated-court-appearance-in-fraud-case/|title=Upstate Assemblyman Bill Nojay dies in apparent suicide before slated court appearance in fraud case|website=nydailynews.com|first=Kenneth|last=Lovett|date=September 10, 2016}}

On September 9, 2016, Nojay died from suicide by firearm near his family's plot at Riverside Cemetery in Rochester, New York. He was due in court that day to face fraud charges related to his legal work, which were subsequently sealed.{{Cite web|url=http://13wham.com/news/top-stories/sources-nys-assemblyman-bill-nojay-dies|title=RPD: NYS Assemblyman Bill Nojay died by suicide|last=Staff|date=September 9, 2016|website=WHAM|publisher=|language=en-US|access-date=September 9, 2016}}

At the time of his death, Nojay was running for re-election to the Assembly. On September 14, 2016, he posthumously defeated Richard Milne, his challenger in the Republican Assembly primary.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/09/13/us/ap-us-election-new-york-dead-man-wins.html|title=NY GOP Lawmaker Wins Primary Days After Killing Himself|date=September 14, 2016|newspaper=New York Times|accessdate=19 September 2016|agency=Associated Press}} A Republican party committee selected former Assemblyman Joseph Errigo to replace Nojay in the general election, which Errigo won.{{cite web|url=http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2016/11/08/new-york-state-assembly-133rd-district-134th-district-135th-district-136th-district-137th-district-138th-district-139th-district/93421248/|title=Errigo, Bronson, Johns Win in Assembly|last1=Murphy|first1=Justin|website=democratandchronicle.com|publisher=Rochester Democrat and Chronicle|accessdate=10 November 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/09/14/us/ap-us-election-new-york-dead-man-wins.html|title=GOP Chairmen Pick Replacement for Dead Primary Winner|date=September 14, 2016|newspaper=New York Times|accessdate=19 September 2016|agency=Associated Press}}