Biography

Andy Goodell was elected Assemblyman for the 150th Assembly District on November 2, 2010. The 150th Assembly District includes the western two-thirds of Chautauqua County, the westernmost county in New York State.

Goodell is a partner in the law firm of Goodell & Rankin, and has been an attorney in several successful high profile cases. Previously, he served as County Executive for eight years where he cut the tax rate six years in a row and left county government with record financial strength. During his term as County Executive, Chautauqua County had the strongest economy in Western New York and enjoyed record employment levels.

Goodell is an active leader in many community and charitable organizations, including the First Covenant Church, founding member and former officer of Chautauqua Leadership Network, past President and three-time Paul Harris Fellow for Jamestown Rotary, Treasurer for Bemus Bay Pops, former Co-Chair of the United Way professional division, former President of the SUNY Fredonia Business Administration and Accounting Advisory Board, and former Board Member and Co-Chair of the successful Girl Scout Capital Campaign for Camp Timbercrest.

Goodell has received various awards including being named to the New York State Farm Bureau’s “Circle of Friends” for his legislative support of New York agriculture and receiving one of the highest rankings in the Assembly by the New York State Business Council. In addition, he has received recognition awards for establishing the Fire Service Enhancement Program and the Chautauqua Child Care Council, and received the Business First “40-under-40" award in 1993. He also received the Ed Crawford Award, the highest award of the New York State Association of Counties, for his welfare and Medicaid reform work. Goodell was appointed by Governor Pataki to serve on a State task force to restructure employment, health, and social services.

Goodell is a graduate of Cornell Law School, where he received the American Jurisprudence Award for Administrative Law and was a member of the Cornell Law Review. He also has a degree in political economics and mathematics from Williams College.

Goodell is married to Lisa Goodell, Executive Director of the Chautauqua Blind Association, and has three grown daughters, a stepson, and several grandchildren. He is a PSIA-certified ski instructor, a member of the Chautauqua Rowing Association, and a licensed marine pilot engineer. He enjoys skiing, hiking, biking, and boating.