John Salka
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = John Salka
| state_assembly = New York
| district = 121st
| term_start = January 9, 2019
| term_end =
| predecessor = William Magee
| successor =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|11|14}}
| birth_place = Utica, New York, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Republican
| spouse = Erin
| children = 2
| education = Mohawk Valley Community College (AS)
| website = {{url|nyassembly.gov/mem/John-Salka|State Assembly website}}
{{url|salkaforassembly.com|Campaign website}}
|signature = John Salka Signature.png
}}
John J. Salka is an American politician and respiratory therapist from the state of New York. A Republican, Salka has represented the 121st district of the New York State Assembly, based in Madison and Otsego Counties, since 2019.{{Cite web|url= https://nyassembly.gov/mem/John-Salka/|title=Assemblyman John Salka|publisher=New York State Assembly|access-date=February 15, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/John_J._Salka|title=John J. Salka|publisher=Ballotpedia|access-date=February 15, 2020}}
Career
Salka has worked as a respiratory therapist for 30 years, currently serving as the director of cardiopulmonary services at Community Memorial Hospital in Hamilton.{{cite web|url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/108020/john-salka|title= John Salka's Biography |publisher=VoteSmart |access-date=February 15, 2020}}
Electoral history
Salka was elected as Brookfield Town Supervisor in 2007, a position he held until 2018.
In 2014, Salka ran for the New York State Assembly's 121st district, challenging long-serving incumbent Democrat William Magee.{{Cite web|url=https://www.syracuse.com/news/2014/10/incumbent_william_magee_challenged_by_john_salka_in_121st_assembly_district.html|title= Can Bill Magee, CNY's longest-serving Assembly member, survive challenge from John Salka?|website=Syracuse.com|author=Elizabeth Doran|date=October 28, 2014|access-date=February 15, 2020}} Salka lost, 53-47%. He ran again against Magee in 2016, losing by a slightly narrower margin of 52-48%.{{Cite web|url=https://www.coopercrier.com/news/magee-defeats-salka-again-in-assembly/article_9067a220-e10a-51e5-a76a-f6c433715c28.html|title= Magee defeats Salka again in Assembly |website=The Cooperstown Crier|author=Jessica Reynolds|date=November 9, 2016|access-date=February 15, 2020}}
Salka announced a third run for the Assembly in 2018, this time defeating Magee 51-49%. He took office on January 9, 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/GOP-takes-121st-Assembly-seat-13403897.php|title= GOP takes 121st Assembly seat|website=Times Union|author=Catie O'Toole|date=November 18, 2018|access-date=February 15, 2020}}
Personal life
Salka lives in Brookfield with his wife Erin. They have two children; Emily (born 1993), and Aleksandr (born 1994). Emily died of brain cancer in 2015.{{Cite web|url=https://www.salkaforassembly.com/meet-john|title=Meet John|publisher=John Salka: Candidate, NYS Assembly 121st District|access-date=February 15, 2020}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
{{New York State Assembly}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Salka, John}}
Category:21st-century members of the New York State Legislature
Category:People from Brookfield, New York
Category:Republican Party members of the New York State Assembly