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Assemblymember Pamela Hunter
New York State Assembly District 128
Pamela J. Hunter grew up in Upstate New York and served in the United States Army, where she was later honorably discharged with a commendation medal and two achievement medals. After her military service, Pamela received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Strayer College in Washington D.C., with concentrations in human resources and computer information systems. She also has a professional certification in human resources. Assemblymember Hunter represents the 128th Assembly District; one of the most diverse districts in the state which includes urban, suburban and rural areas as well as the Onondaga Nation. The district encompasses the southern, near west and eastern portions of the City of Syracuse and the surrounding towns of Dewitt, Onondaga and Salina.
Prior to her election to the New York State Assembly in 2015, Pamela served on the Syracuse Common Council for three years and chaired the Public Safety Committee. She also has broad professional experience having held executive positions with nonprofit organizations and professional service firms. Her community service includes participation on various boards: AccessCNY, Catholic Charities, Meals on Wheels, Homes Aides of Central New York and the Syracuse Industrial Development Agency.
As a Member of the Assembly, Ms. Hunter chairs the Banks Committee. Additionally, she is currently the only female veteran in the State Legislature, giving her unique insight as the Chair of the Assembly Subcommittee on Women Veterans. Pamela is also a member of the Insurance, Energy, and Veteran Affairs Committees, as well as the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Caucus and the Women’s Caucus. Nationally, Pamela serves as Chair of the Finance Committee and as Treasurer on the Executive Committee for the National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL). In this role, she oversees the organization’s finances and continues to introduce model laws for adoption in states across the country. In 2023, she passed a model law that ensures biomarker diagnostic coverage under health insurance plans for various diseases such as cancer.
Assemblymember Hunter has been a stalwart defender of human rights, and as such has sponsored legislation to protect the most vulnerable residents of New York State. She has championed anti-poverty legislation, such as the Driver’s License Suspension Reform Act which reforms disproportionate negative effects on our poor and populations of color. Another of her enacted bills secured a property tax credit for low-income households that are required to carry flood insurance. Ms. Hunter also sponsors numerous professional industry bills that aide businesses in the delivery of services, improves the quality of products available to consumers and makes communities better and safer. One such bill, which has been signed into law, ensures medical patients receive care without further insurance pre-authorization if unexpected additional services become necessary during a procedure that was already authorized. This ensures that something like nausea can be treated during an insurance authorized chemotherapy appointment.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Pamela Hunter ensured that those in her district and beyond had access to food, face coverings and sanitizer while assisting individuals and businesses that suffered income loss. As the economy and public health recover, she has been dedicated to finding policy solutions that work for all Central New Yorkers. With the state facing fiscal difficulties, she has remained dedicated to advocating for improved employment opportunities, access to quality education and increased public safety, among other priorities.
Pamela Hunter lives in Syracuse with her husband, son, and rescue dog.