Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C-Big Flats) joins his Assembly Minority colleagues to unveil a school safety plan and ask for funding and its inclusion in the pending state budget on Thursday, March 30, 2023.

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C-Big Flats) joins his Assembly Minority colleagues at a press conference to make adjustments to the Raise the Age law to take in consideration aggravating circumstances of the committed crime at the New York State Capitol on Thursday, March 23, 2023.

Legislative officials and highway superintendents, their staff and other advocates call on the governor to increase funding for local roads and bridges at the “Local Roads Are Essential” rally in the State Capitol in Albany on March 8, 2023.

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C-Big Flats) speaks with a group of students from the Owego FFA Chapter at the FFA breakfast held in Albany on February 7, 2023. Left to Right – Mahayla Walsh; Hunter Pitcher; Derek Hill, their advisor; Friend and Kathryn Donnelly-Taylor, Owego FFA chapter president.

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) rallies with highway superintendents in the state Capitol calling for a $150 million increase to local aid for local roadways and the restoration of $65 million for the Extreme Winter Recovery Program.

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) (second to left) joined veterans and Assembly Minority colleagues in calling for the restoration of $6 million in funding for veterans programs. Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay is speaking (center).

(Left to right) Counselor Nick Matyas, Assemblyman Christopher Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats), Xymier Thomas, Madison Oliveri, Kaelin Thomas, Ruby Moncrieft and Counselor Autumn Loke meet to discuss the Binghamton University Liberty Partnership Program, an organization that supports 360 students in setting and achieving academic, social and emotional goals.

(Left to right) Preston Evans, Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats), Mellisa Ellis, Trisha Peters, Theresa Melnyk, Cameo Clough and Assemblyman Clifford W. Crouch (R-Bainbridge)

From left to right: Assemblyman Chris Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats), Reality Check Coordinator Samantha White, Amber Updike, Arianna Haskins, Wally Longwell, Southern Tier Tobacco Awareness Coalition Community Engagement Coordinator Michelle Larimore, Shane Lehman and Assemblywoman Marjorie Byrnes (R,C-Caledonia) welcome student advocates from the Reality Check program, an anti-smoking action group.

(Left to right) Assemblyman Joseph M. Giglio (R,C,I-Gowanda), Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats), Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning), Assemblywoman Marjorie Byrnes (R,C-Caledonia), Steuben County District Attorney Brooks Baker, Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats), Steuben County Sheriff James L Allard, and City of Hornell Mayor John Buckley joined law enforcement at a rally in the State Capitol in calling for the repeal of New York’s bail reform.

Many sheriffs, law enforcement, district attorneys and legislators attended the rally calling for the repeal of bail reform on February 4, 2020.

Sen. Fred Akshar and Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) welcomed the Newark Valley High School (NVHS)Women’s Choir to the Capitol on March 19, 2019.
Row 1 (L to R): Courtney Romig; Kelsey Kerns; April Simmons; Jillianne Hanson; Emma Clark; Darrah Wright
Row 2: Allison Walker; Lacey Cunningham; Piper Davis; Samantha Allen; Charlotte Dunn; Libby Northrop
Row 3: Kennedy McNeil; Madison Peabody; Ashley Holt; Regan Lanning, Teachers Assistant; Tia Quick
Row 4: Alyssa Baker; Emily Squires; Maureen Kiley, NVHS Band Director; Renee Riegel; Erin Wilday, NVHS Choir Director; Brianna Beebe; Dawn Shannon, accompanist; Rosaria Hines

(From left to right: Assemblyman Chris Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats), Sen. Tom O’Mara, Michelle Larimore (STTAC Community Engagement), Trinity Ford, Savannah Ayers, Amber Updike, Samantha White (STTAC Reality Check Coordinator), Emma Pack, Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning)
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Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) and Assemblyman Chris Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) recently welcomed representatives from the Southern Tier Library System to Albany.

First row, from left: Assemblyman Chris Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats), Jacob Tennant (Apalachian, NY), Josh McCausland (Horseheads, NY), Thomas Pawlak (Horseheads, NY), Julia Thomas (Corning), Shelley Dugas-Thomas (Corning), Anita Pawlak (Horseheads), Assemblyman Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning).

Second row, from left: Karol Tennant (Apalachian, NY), Hunter Tennant (Apalachian), Anna McCausland (Horseheads), and Julie McCausland (Horseheads).

Assemblymen Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) and Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) meet with representatives from the Southern Tier Library Association.

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats), the Pawlak and Orcutt families and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) in the Assembly Chamber.

Assemblymen Friend and Palmesano with students from Corning Community College

Lee Dennery, Sunnie Smith, Assemblyman Phil Palmesano, Sarah Robbins, Jahleah Dennery, Krissi Elliot,Cheyenne Elliot, Assemblyman Joe Giglio and Assemblyman Chris Friend.

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) had the opportunity to honor the Tuskegee Airmen on their 75th Anniversary

President of the NYS Association of Conservation Districts Dan Farrand and GST BOCES Conservation Instructor and FFA Advisor Dan MacNaughton are pictured on the left. On the right are Assemblyman Phil Palmesano and Assemblyman Chris Friend. Between the gentlemen is a group of FFA students, including Miranda Stansfield – Horseheads High School, Ashley Materne- Horseheads High School, Dakota London – Watkins Glen High School, Emily Zine – Horseheads High School, Kyle Frasier – Odessa Montour High School and Nathan H Washburn – Elmira High School.

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) looks on as Assemblyman Peter Lopez addresses the media at the “Truth in Spending” press conference.

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) looks on as Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb addresses the media at the Restoring Trust in Government press conference stressing the necessity for ethics reform in the legislature. The conference proposed 17 measures, including term limits for leadership, increased publishing of votes online, and recording and webcasting of committee meetings, all of which were defeated on the floor by the Assembly Majority.

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats), along with his Assembly Minority colleagues, looks on as Assemblyman Ed Ra begins recent press conference in Albany to announce their new education reform initiative, The Next Step.

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) (second left) and Assembly Minority colleagues at a recent press conference calling for passage of real ethics reform.

Assemblymen Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) (bottom, left) and Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) (bottom, right) recently welcomed the Southern Tier Montessori School to the Capitol and the Assembly Floor. The students spent the day learning how state government operates and the role it plays in the day-to-day operations of the state. Pictured here, first row (left to right), Allison Giaconia, Conrad West, Caitlyn O'Dell, Emily Nguyen, Aaron Verkleeren, Liam Bayne, and Abiey Kohnke. Second row, Alina Levine, Kateri Condon, Charly Slusser, Clara Campbell, Hannah Masaki, and Sean Thweatt. Third row, Gavin DeLuca, and Reina Powers. Back row, Sheila Reed, Michele Johnson, Deborah Thweatt, Glenn Kohnke, David Slusser, Cory West, and Richard Condon.

Members of the Assembly Minority Conference and representatives from Blue Lives Matter at a press conference showcasing their Blue Lives Matter wristbands. Assemblyman Christopher Friend (R,C,I – Big Flats) joined his colleagues and members of the organization Blue Lives Matter NYC to raise awareness of the group’s mission. Blue Lives Matter works with the families of fallen officers around the country to help ease the pain of losing those who give the ultimate sacrifice for the communities they serve.

Pictured with Assemblyman Chris Friend (left) are Anna Evanek, Rachael Schweiger, Dakota Skinner, Annie Wainwright, Taylor Ayres, Dustin Sherman and Robin Baker, representatives and students from Reality Check Youth Group who work to combat tobacco use by their fellow students.

Pictured left to right are Assemblyman Phil Palmesano, State Disaster Coordinating Team Co-Chair Steve Monroe, Red Cross State Official Michael Hoplight, American Red Cross Sullivan Trail Chapter Executive Director Joel Robinson, Jr. and Assemblyman Chris Friend.

Assemblyman Andrew Raia; Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend; Andrew Smith, Director of Marketing & Promotions, Watkins Glen International; Job Beckman, Vice President of Business & Development, Watkins Glen International; Jordan Taylor, Driver, Wayne Taylor Racing/Corvette Racing; Sen. Tom O’Mara; Michael Printup, President, Watkins Glen International; Ricky Taylor, Driver, Wayne Taylor Racing/Corvette Racing; and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano.

Pictured, left to right, Jay Dinga, Assemblyman Chris Friend, Thomas Osiecki