Janele Hyer-Spencer

Donna Janele Hyer-Spencer (born October 24, 1964)[2][3] is an American attorney and former politician. Hyer-Spencer represented New York's 60th Assembly District,[5] which covers parts of Staten Island and Brooklyn, from 2007 to 2010. She is a Democrat.

Janele Hyer-Spencer
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 60th district
In office
January 1, 2007 – December 31, 2010
Preceded byMatthew Mirones
Succeeded byNicole Malliotakis
Personal details
Born
Donna Janele Hyer[1]

(1964-10-24) October 24, 1964[2][3]
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseDouglas Spencer
EducationColumbia College Chicago (BA)
CUNY School of Law (JD)
Queens College (MA)
ProfessionAttorney,[4] politician
Signature
Websitewww.janele.com

Early life and education

Hyer-Spencer attended high school in Lake Zurich, Illinois, where she ran track and cross country and played golf.[3]

Hyer-Spencer earned a bachelor's degree from Columbia College Chicago. She played basketball in college.[3] She graduated from CUNY School of Law with a J.D. and also graduated from Queens College with a Master of Arts degree in Public Policy.[6]

Career

Hyer-Spencer became a litigation attorney for the New York City Administration for Children's Services, specializing in child abuse and neglect. Hyer-Spencer practiced in all five boroughs of the City of New York and the Integrated Domestic Violence Courts. She later joined the ACS legal Counsel unit, where she was responsible for negotiating and resolving class actions and civil lawsuits.[7]

Hyer-Spencer served as the Legal Director of My Sister's Place,[8] a New York City-based non-profit organization which helps victims of domestic violence.[9]

New York State Assembly

Hyer-Spencer was first elected to the New York State Assembly in November 2006, narrowly defeating her Republican opponent to win a seat vacated by Republican Matthew Mirones. In 2010, Hyer-Spencer was defeated by Republican Nicole Malliotakis with 55% of the vote.[10] Following her 2010 defeat, Hyer-Spencer packed up her district office and failed to pass constituent files on to Malliotakis.[11]

Domestic violence

Upon taking office, Hyer-Spencer vowed to be a voice for victims of violence and abuse. Speaking on the floor of the New York State Assembly in her first term, she advocated for stronger penalties for child sex abusers.[12] During her tenure, several domestic violence-related bills sponsored by Hyer-Spencer became law.[13] Hyer-Spencer sponsored a bill to eliminate fees on Orders of Protection to remove financial roadblocks from victims seeking protections; the bill became law.[14]

Education and health care

In 2008, Hyer-Spencer told voters that she would advocate for education and health care that is "a right not a privilege".[15] In 2010, she voted against a budget extender bill that included education spending cuts.[16] She also developed the Hyer Hopes Awards honoring students from selected elementary, intermediate, and high schools throughout Staten Island and Bay Ridge who demonstrated significant improvement in academic achievement, or succeeded by overcoming adverse conditions.[17]

Environment

Hyer-Spencer used her role on the State's Energy Committee to partner with Josh Fox, an Oscar-nominated film director, to educate the public and advocate a ban on natural gas drilling within New York City's watershed.[18]

Honors

Hyer-Spencer was awarded the Verrazano Narrows award from the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation for her work promoting economic development, where she drafted and sponsored legislation to create the first ever "Green Zone" to attract and encourage environmentally green businesses to Staten Island.[19] She was also recognized for her efforts to motivate, mentor, and inspire Staten Island business women by founding and funding the Women's Leadership Council.[20] Her local awards also include recognition by the Alzheimer's Foundation of Staten Island for her commitment and advocacy on behalf of those combating the brain disorder.[21]

Community service

Hyer-Spencer was chosen by the American Cancer Society to present a public service announcement highlighting her father's battle with cancer and struggle with maintaining health insurance.[22] She was recognized for her commitment to the Dress for Success campaign where she sponsored a yearly drive to benefit women re-entering the work force.[23]

Post-Assembly career

In September 2011, Hyer-Spencer was hired by the New York State Education Department as a federal legislative liaison.[11] A former state employee alleged that Sheldon Silver concocted a scheme to fire her from her job so that Hyer-Spencer could be hired.[24]

Personal life

During her Assembly tenure, Hyer-Spencer resided in Staten Island with her husband, Douglas Spencer. As of 2009, she had run in three New York City Marathons, with a best time of 4 hours and 20 minutes. In a Staten Island Advance interview, she stated she runs 5 days a week, and over 25 hours a week.[3]

While in the State Assembly, she was noted for commuting to Albany via motorcycle, riding a Yamaha V-Star with the custom license plate JANELE.[25]

In court papers unsealed during the sentencing phase of the criminal trial of former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, the federal government stated that it had evidence that Silver had engaged in extramarital affairs with two people; the names were redacted, but other sources identified one of the people as Hyer-Spencer. Hyer-Spencer's attorney denied the allegations.[26][27]

References
  1. "Lawyer Donna Hyer-Spencer - Staten Island, NY Attorney - Avvo.com". avvo.com.
  2. "D. Janele Hyer-Spencer". OurCampaigns.com. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  3. Kochman, George (October 28, 2009). "What makes 'em run: Janele Hyer-Spencer". Staten Island Advance. SILive.com. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  4. "Attorney Search - Captcha". iapps.courts.state.ny.us.
  5. "New York State Assembly - Charles Barron". state.ny.us.
  6. "Meet the candidates in East Shore Assembly race". silive. October 28, 2010.
  7. "Social Workers from Within and... Outside ACS Express Their Views". NASW New York City Chapter. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  8. "My Sisters' Place - Legal Services". Archived from the original on August 18, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  9. Hicks, Jonathan (November 6, 2006). "Rarity in New York Politics: Tight Assembly Race in City". New York Times. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  10. Padnani, Amy (November 3, 2010). "Nicole Malliotakis, an upstart from Rosebank, runs roughshod over Assembly incumbent". silive.
  11. R, Judy L.; R, All (September 21, 2011). "Former Staten Island Assemblywoman Janele Hyer-Spencer snags a nifty state post". silive.
  12. "State Assemblywoman Janele Hyer-Spencer speaks on Sex Offenders". New York State Assembly. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021.
  13. "Assembly Passes Legislation To Expand Protections for Domestic Violence Victims". Women Against Violence - Bay Ridge. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  14. "2007 Domestic Violence Legislative Update". Empire Justice Center. Archived from the original on February 3, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2007.
  15. Klein, Helen (October 17, 2008). "Janele vs. the cop - Hyer-Spencer, Cammarata tangle". Brooklyn Courier Life. Retrieved October 17, 2008.
  16. Padnani, Amy (June 26, 2010). "Staten Island Technical High School students rally against budget cuts". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved June 26, 2010.
  17. "Assemblywoman recognizes 53 island graduates". Staten Island Advance.
  18. "Brooklyn Independent Television Episode 135". Brooklytn Elected Officials. Retrieved October 26, 2009.
  19. Randall, Judy (April 30, 2010). "For Staten Island, these are better days, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver tells SIEDC Conference attendees". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
  20. "20G grant to boost women's group". Staten Island Adbace. Retrieved August 6, 2008.
  21. "Alzheimer's group bestows honors". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved March 4, 2007.
  22. "Access to Health Care: Janelle Hyer-Spencer". American Cancer Society. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2008.
  23. "Assemblywoman thanks Island for response to clothing drive". Staten Island Advance. December 8, 2009. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
  24. "Report: State employees fired for Janele Hyer-Spencer". silive. May 2, 2016.
  25. Paybarah, Azi (May 4, 2009). "Janele Hyer-Spencer Travels Light". New York Observer. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  26. Weiser, Benjamin (April 15, 2016). "U.S. Cites Extramarital Affairs as Misuse of Power in Sheldon Silver Case". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
  27. "Sheldon Silver cheated with lobbyist, ex-assemblywoman". New York Daily News.
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