Stanley Gerzofsky
Member of the Maine Senate
from the 10th district
In office
2009–2017
Succeeded byBrownie Carson
Personal details
BornDecember 18, 1944
New York City
Political partyDemocratic

Stanley J. 'Stan' Gerzofsky (born December 18, 1944) is an American politician from the state of Maine. A Brunswick resident, Gerzofsky represented the 10th Senate District. He was first elected to the Maine House of Representatives representing Brunswick in 2000 and served in the House until he was term-limited out in 2008, when he ran for the State Senate. He has been a member of the Brunswick Democratic Committee since 1980 and the Cumberland County Democratic Committee since 1990.

Career before politics

Gerzofsky was a furniture manufacturer prior to entering politics.[1]

State legislative tenure

Following the closure of the Maine State Prison in 2002, Gerzofsky led an effort in the state House to convert the shuttered facility for another use.[2]

In the state Senate, Gerzofsky represented District 24, which includes Brunswick, Harpswell, Freeport, Pownal, and North Yarmouth.[3] Gerzofsky was elected to a fourth term in the Senate in 2014.[3]

Gerzofsky was described as the leading advocate in the Maine Legislature for dam safety. Maine has many structurally deficient dams that present a public hazard; Gerzofsky advocated implementing the recommendations of a state task force to fund dam safety inspections.[4]

Gerzofsky served as co-chairman of the Legislature's Criminal Justice Committee. As co-chair, he opposed a project to spend $100 million to raze the Maine Correctional Center in Windham and build a new prison complex in its place.[5] Gerzofsky also served as the co-chairman of the Forensic Mental Health Services Oversight Committee.[6]

Gerzofsky, a hunter and gun owner,[7] had "a long history of opposing NRA-sponsored bills" while holding public office.[8] He supported legislation to bar the carrying of guns at Acadia National Park and the St. Croix Island International Historic Site.[7] In 2013 he co-sponsored legislation to promote background checks for the private sales of guns by imposing a "civil fine of $500 if a gun seller does not perform a background check and the buyer is later discovered to be a prohibited person."[9] However, Gerzofsky also supported legislation that would block landlords from prohibiting subsidized tenants from keeping guns in their apartments.[8]

In 2016, Gerzofsky was ineligible to run for reelection to the Senate due to term limits.[10]

References

  1. ^ Information from the 121st Legislature (2003-2004) on Representative Gerzofsky, Maine Legislature.
  2. ^ Prison that inspired Stephen King closes, United Press International (February 13, 2002).
  3. ^ a b Democrat Stan Gerzofsky beats back challengers in Senate District 24, Bangor Daily News (November 5, 2014)/
  4. ^ John Christie & Naomi Schalit, Half of dams that threaten lives lack state inspection, Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting (August 24, 2011) - republished in the Bangor Daily News.
  5. ^ Daniel Hartill, Planned $100 million prison in Windham controversial, Sun-Journal (September 2, 2013).
  6. ^ Betty Adams, Housing prisoners in the treatment center in Warren eases some problems at county jails and provides important services for them, MaineToday Media (February 19, 2014).
  7. ^ a b Glenn Adams, Maine seeks to prohibit guns in its Acadia National Park, Associated Press (February 25, 2010).
  8. ^ a b Steve Mistlers, Maine Senate quietly approves bill backing gun rights of subsidized tenants, Portland Press-Herald (March 24, 2016).
  9. ^ Scott Thistle, Maine Legislature passes bill that promotes background checks for private gun sales, Sun Journal (June 19, 2013).
  10. ^ Peter McGuire, Veteran environmentalist, local fisherman compete in Senate District 24 (October 28, 2016).
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