Biography

Brian Kolb was first elected to represent New York State's 129th Assembly District when a special election was held in February 2000 and was overwhelmingly re-elected in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010. On April 6, 2009, he was unanimously elected Minority Leader by his colleagues. His district includes Cayuga, Cortland, Onondaga, Ontario and Seneca counties.

Reducing taxes, improving the quality of education, fostering job creation, providing sound health care and reforming state government are among Leader Kolb’s legislative priorities. He is dedicated to ensuring that residents and businesses throughout the district receive effective, responsive constituent service and timely assistance with state government inquiries. His principal goal is to be easily accessible and approachable to the people he represents. In a short time, he has gained a reputation for hard work, producing results and being very active in his district with a down-to-earth, straight-talking approach.

As a business consultant, entrepreneur and chief operating officer at a variety of small and large technology-based businesses, Leader Kolb acquired a wealth of valuable private sector experience. He is the former president of Refractron Technologies and a co-founder of the North American Filter Corporation.

Leader Kolb has demonstrated a strong commitment to education throughout both his personal life and his professional career. He currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Adult and Graduate Education at Roberts Wesleyan College, where his students have twice selected him Outstanding Faculty Member. He is a former Chairman of the Finger Lakes Community College Foundation and is a former member of the Honeoye Central School Board and the Finger Lakes Community College Board of Trustees. He earned high honors while completing his Master of Science and Bachelor of Science Degrees at Roberts Wesleyan College.

Community involvement and public service have been hallmarks of Leader Kolb’s background. He is currently a member of the Canandaigua Rotary Club, the Honeoye Chapter of the Sons of the American Legion, Ontario Charities Classic Board of Directors, the Ontario ARC Advisory Board, the New York Farm Bureau, Honorary Board Member of Finger Lakes HealthQuest Foundation and is a Notary Public. He previously served as Supervisor for the Town of Richmond, Chairman of Leadership Rochester’s Board of Directors, and as a member of the Ontario County Revolving Loan Fund Committee, the Ontario County Board of Supervisors and the New York State Public Authorities Control Board.

He is a member of the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL), the Heartland Institute’s Board of Legislative Advisors, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the League of Women Voters, the National Rifle Association (NRA), the Shooters’ Committee On Political Education (SCOPE), the American Irish Legislators Society and the Knights of Columbus.

Leader Kolb lives in Canandaigua with his wife, Lauren, and has three grown children, sons Britton and Clayton, daughter Kylie and one grandson, Everett.