Michael H. Ranzenhofer, Republican-Conservative-Independence, was elected to a third term in the New York State Senate in November of 2012.  Prior to being elected to the State Senate, he served as an Erie County Legislator, from 1989 to 2008.

Senator Ranzenhofer serves as a citizen legislator – a dedicated public servant who still works and volunteers in the community. He represents individuals and businesses in both Genesee and Erie County as a partner at Friedman & Ranzenhofer, P.C., with offices located in Akron, Batavia and Clarence.  As a professional, still working in the private-sector, Senator Ranzenhofer has a greater awareness of the impact that legislation from the State Capitol has on residents and businesses in the community.

During his first term, Senator Ranzenhofer was one of the most outspoken Senators in opposition to record increases in taxes and spending during the 2009 and 2010 State budgets.  He believes the answers to New York’s fiscal problems are cutting expenditures and lowering taxes – in order to create a more favorable business climate so the private sector can create jobs and young people can have opportunities to make Western New York their home.  He is the author of  legislation: repealing the increased 18-A assessment on utility bills and the cost-recovery tax on economic development agencies and restoring the STAR rebate check for middle-class families and senior citizens. 

For his efforts on behalf of taxpayers, Senator Ranzenhofer has been recognized with numerous honors and awards, including Guardian of Small Business by the National Federation of Independent Business; 2010 Business Advocate of the Year by the Amherst Chamber of Commerce; and member of the Circle of Friends of the Farm Bureau.

A longtime resident of the town of Amherst, he and his wife, Sue, have two children. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from SUNY at Albany with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1976, then continued on to receive a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from SUNY at Buffalo Law School in 1979.

The 61st Senate District encompasses: the Towns of Amherst, Clarence, and Newstead and the Villages of Akron and Williamsville in Erie County; all of Genesee County; and the Towns of Chili and Riga, the Village of Churchville and part of the City of Rochester in Monroe County.