BARBARA MARLENE CLARK

33rd Assembly District (Part of Queens County)
Albany office:
LOB 704, ALBANY 12248
518-455-4711
District Office:
97-01 SPRINGFIELD BLVD, QUEENS VILLAGE 11429
718-479-2333

Barbara Marlene Clark, born on June 12, 1939 in Beckley, West Virginia, is the daughter of a coal miner. As a Democratic member of the Assembly elected to represent the 33rd Assembly District she has striven to provide leadership with integrity.

Nothing concerns Barbara M. Clark more than the problems young people face every day. As an Assemblywoman for the past nine years, Mrs. Clark has focused her considerable energies on improving the quality of education in New York.

Assemblywoman Clark was successful in converting a failing Andrew Jackson High School to a progressive, new magnet school. This massive effort took more than three years to complete.

Due to her vigilant advocacy on behalf of children, the Legislature recommended, and the then-Governor, Mario M. Cuomo swiftly approved Mrs. Clark's appointment as one of New York's representatives to the Education Commission of the States (ECS).

Mrs. Clark's leadership was again quickly recognized and she garnered an appointment to the ECS Executive Steering Committee, a much coveted appointment among national education leaders.

This past legislative session, Assemblywoman Clark forced attention on the need to increase both the quality and accessibility of day care. She succeeded in securing $5 million for this effort as well as the commissioning of a comprehensive child care facility strategic plan in the 1994 budget.

Assemblywoman Barbara M. Clark played a key role in the recent expansion of the state's Child Health Insurance Program to cover 13 and 14 year old children starting in 1995. She also supported tough new domestic violence laws and better legal protection for nursing mothers.

Assemblywoman Clark will continue advocating for young people and will again direct her efforts to addressing the crime problem in her communities. Working closely with law enforcement officials, the local district attorney and the police commissioner, Mrs. Clark continues to encourage neighborhood watch programs and closer relations with community leaders and law enforcement. She is especially proud of a neighborhood watch program she initiated that allows residents to report suspicious activities while remaining anonymous. She also continues to develop a communications network to inform her community on ways to eliminate an environment conducive to crime.

One of Assemblywoman Barbara Clark's greatest assets is her courage to speak out for her community; the other is her knowledge of the legislative process--both of which serve her well as the Chair of the Assembly Committee on State and Federal Relations. As Chair, she is charged with monitoring and reporting on the actions of the federal government and its effect on New Yorkers. Also, she Chairs the Subcommittee on Persons In Need of Supervision and the Subcommittee on Public Authorities. Additionally, Assemblywoman Clark is a member of the following Assembly Standing Committees: Children and Families, Cities, Corporations, Authorities and Commissions, Education, and Labor.

Mrs. Clark today continues to enjoy affiliations and participation in organizations throughout Queens County. She is a member of: the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; National Council of Negro Women; Cambria Heights Civic Association; and the Cambria Heights Kiwanis Club.

Assemblywoman Barbara M. Clark is married to Thomas Clark, Jr. and they have four grown children Jan, Crystal, Thomas II and Brian.


Return to the Queens Assembly Representatives Homepage

Return to Queens elected officials Homepage

Return to Queens, New York Homepage