Stephen M. Hawley was born in Batavia, New York on the family farm. He graduated from Batavia High School and went on to graduate from the University of Toledo with a B. S. in Education in 1972. Mr. Hawley served seven years in the Ohio Army National Guard and the U. S. Army Reserves earning the rank of 1st Lieutenant.
Mr. Hawley has spent 36 years in the private sector, holding various positions in farming, real estate and insurance. He was owner and operator of Hawley Farms, a family agri-business in Batavia, New York from 1972 through 1979. In 1979, Steve became an agent at Hawley & Associates, selling life, property and casualty insurance for the next twelve years. In 1991 he started Stephen M. Hawley & Assoc., LLC @ The Insurance Center. Steve’s dedication to his policyholders and employees has resulted in growth from $240,000 to $5,500,000 in premium. While actively growing his business, Steve has held a real estate license for fifteen years and represents Bob Harris Realty, selling residential and commercial property in the Genesee Valley region.
Mr. Hawley has a strong commitment to his community. His diverse board memberships and volunteer work are appreciated by many organizations throughout the region. He currently serves on the Genesee Community College Foundation Board of Director’s, former member of the Genesee County Empire Zone Development Board, former member of the Board of Director’s for the Genesee Center for Independent Living, former member of the Genesee County Planning Board and The Genesee Valley BOCES Board of Education. Past memberships include Board of Director’s for the Genesee Area YMCA, Board of Director’s and past campaign Chairman for the Genesee United Way, President of the Genesee County Cornell Cooperative Extension Board and The Genesee County Farm Bureau. For the past three years he has served as chairman of the St. James Church Episcopal Community Services Campaign. He also coordinated the three county Hurricane Katrina relief effort culminating with food and clothing delivered to D’Iberville, Miss. Mr. Hawley is a long-standing active member of the Batavia Rotary Club and as such has served on the Board of Directors and as Club Secretary. Other activities and memberships include the American Legion Glenn Loomis Post 332, Stafford Volunteer Fire Department, Grandview Cemetery Board of Director, American Cancer Society and the Hugh O’Brien Youth Foundation.
The work Mr. Hawley has done in his community extends
to political and government service. He was elected to the Genesee
County Legislature in 1984 and served through 1991. During that time,
he served as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Public Service
Committee and Human Services Committee. As a County Legislator, he
was a liaison to the Genesee County Fingerlakes Regional Planning
Council, the Genesee County Industrial Development Agency, Chairman
of the Genesee County Deferred Compensation Committee and Genesee
Community College Board of Trustees. He is Vice-Chairman of the Town
of Batavia Republican Committee, Genesee County Republican Committeeman
and also NYS Republican Committeeman. Mr. Hawley also served for thirteen
years as Community Liaison for NYS Assemblyman Charles Nesbitt.
Mr. Hawley was elected on February 28, 2006 in a Special Election to fill the unexpired term of resigned Assemblyman Charles Nesbitt. He was relected to a full two year term in November of 2006 with 70% of the vote. Mr. Hawley is currently seeking relection for a second full two year term.
Mr. Hawley and his wife, Crystal reside in the Town of Batavia. They
are the parents of four sons, Brooks, Dan, Tim and Cooper. He is the
son of former Assemblyman R. Stephen Hawley and the late Ellen Hawley.