John Bonacic is the second generation of his family born in America and the first in his family to go to college.  He went to Iona College on an academic and basketball scholarship.  In college, he won the Economics Medal and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a major in Economics and a minor in Philosophy.  While working for Orange and Rockland utilities during the day, at night he attended Fordham Law School and obtained his law degree. 

In the late 1960s he moved to Orange County, and was elected by his neighbors in rural Mount Hope to be their County Legislator.  He was chosen by his colleagues in the County Legislature to be the Majority Leader, and then, running against a member of his own party, was elected with bi-partisan support to be Chairman of the County Legislature. 

From the County Legislature, he was elected to the State Legislature.  He has served as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Housing, Construction, and Community Development.   During that time, he authored the State’s first-in-the nation housing tax credit, and sponsored the Access to Homes program, helping disabled Veterans receive assistance to retrofit their homes. 

Another major issue for the Senator is fighting for property tax reform. The Senate passed legislation he co-authored to change the way our schools are funded.  He has fought successfully on behalf of our region to force New York City to lower their reservoirs, and secured funding to help families whose homes were subject to repeated flooding.

Healthcare, however, has been a centerpiece of John Bonacic’s service.  Senator Bonacic has worked to help prevent the permanent closure of four local hospitals in three counties – Margaretville; Ellenville; Catskill Regional Medical Center; and Tri-Town Regional Hospital, located in Sidney, NY.  In addition to helping save those hospitals, John  Bonacic was the Senate sponsor of the Women’s Health and Wellness Act.  The legislation, bitterly opposed by insurance giants, granted women equality in healthcare services covered by insurance carriers. 

Studies had shown that health insurance policies covered crucial men’s healthcare needs more than women’s needs.  As a result, a coalition of dozens of organizations worked with John Bonacic for three years to enact comprehensive legislation providing insurance coverage for osteoporosis screening and treatment; cervical cancer services; and mammograms.    The groundbreaking legislation was featured on NBC Nightly news nationally and hailed as a landmark victory for women’s healthcare needs. 

In addition to fighting for quality healthcare, John Bonacic has worked in support of volunteer firefighters.  He has fought to improve firefighter training facilities in Delaware, Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster Counties.    For his efforts on behalf of firefighters, Sen. Bonacic was awarded the “Golden Trumpet Award”, which is the highest award that FASNY (Firemen’s Association of the State of New York)

bestowed to an individual. He was also instrumental in establishing a New York State EMS Memorial for those who died while serving their communities.

John Bonacic has been married for over forty years to his wife, Pat, and has two adult children – Melissa, a schoolteacher and County Legislator; and Scott, an attorney.  He is the grandfather of three children, Cameron, Dylan, and Tyler.