31 Facts About Jane Corwin

Jane Lewis Corwin was born on February 29,1964 and is an American politician and businesswoman who currently serves a Commissioner of the International Joint Commission for United States and Canada.

Jane Corwin previously served as a Republican Party member of the New York State Assembly from 2009 to 2016.

Jane Corwin represented the 144th Assembly District which covers parts of Erie and Niagara counties.

Jane Corwin faced three other candidates in the election, losing to Democrat Kathy Hochul 47 percent to 42 percent.

Jane Corwin has said she spent 36 years working in the private sector, beginning her business career at age eight by delivering phone books for The Talking Phone Book, the family business that had been founded by her father, Wilbur Lewis, a former salesman.

Jane Corwin has stressed she did not grow up wealthy, noting that in the 1980s, her family almost lost their home.

Jane Corwin began college at the private Ithaca College and had to transfer to the State University of New York at Albany because of cost concerns.

Jane Corwin worked on Wall Street from 1987 to 1990 as a research director for Henry Ansbacher, Inc.

Jane Corwin served on the board of directors of the Talking Phone Book as Secretary-Treasurer beginning in 1987, making strategic decisions for the company.

Jane Corwin has been a community volunteer, serving as president of a committee of the Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo, as confirmation leader at her church, and as a member of a committee of the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo.

Jane Corwin served on the board of directors of Brookfield Country Club Women's Association and became a private sector protege of Erie County Executive Christopher Collins serving as an assistant treasurer for his campaign from 2007 to 2008, according to the Buffalo News.

Jane Corwin won the primary for the 142nd Assembly District seat against three other Republican candidates including incumbent Assemblyman Mike Cole, who had the Republican party endorsement, but who had been censured for fraternizing with an intern one year earlier.

Jane Corwin went on to defeat Working Families Party candidate Jeffrey Bono in the November 2008 general election, receiving 89 percent of the vote.

Jane Corwin ran uncontested in the November 2010 general election, receiving endorsements from the Conservative and Independence parties of New York State.

Jane Corwin opposed a bill that would legalize gay marriage.

Jane Corwin opposed a loosening of state drug laws that would reduce long prison terms and give judges more leeway in sentencing, and voted "no" on a bill that required the unshackling of prisoners while giving birth.

Later that month, Jane Corwin was unanimously chosen by Republican Party leaders to be the Party's nominee in the special election to fill the seat.

Jane Corwin vied for the congressional seat against local businessman Jack Davis, an independent candidate running on the Tea Party ballot line; Erie County Clerk Kathy Hochul, a Democrat; and writer Ian Murphy the Green Party candidate.

Jane Corwin said that if elected, she would work to cut federal government spending, reduce taxes and repeal the health care overhaul that was enacted by the Democratic majority Congress in 2010.

Jane Corwin signed a tax pledge, promising to oppose all efforts to increase marginal tax rates on individuals and businesses, and to oppose reductions of tax credits or deductions that are not matched by reductions in tax rates.

Jane Corwin strongly supported US Representative Paul Ryan's proposal to reform the Medicare program for senior citizens by turning it into a program that would give seniors vouchers to purchase private health insurance coverage.

Jane Corwin said the plan would protect Medicare for future generations by putting it on solid financial ground.

Jane Corwin called her Democratic opponent's proposals to raise taxes on the wealthy an attack on those "who help our jobs grow and who will keep Medicare from going into bankruptcy", and has said that the Democrats, including Hochul, have offered no alternative to the Republicans' voucher plan.

Jane Corwin ultimately lost to Hochul 47 to 43 percent in the special election.

Jane Corwin responded to attacks that she basically wants to eliminate Medicare, by airing an ad claiming her opponent Hochul wanted to cut Social Security and Medicare.

Jane Corwin's ad was based on Hochul's debate statement that budget talks should put everything on the table.

American Crossroads endorsed and provided support to Jane Corwin's campaign, reflecting the national importance of the contest.

The Rochester Business alliance endorsed Jane Corwin, as did the FreedomWorks PAC.

On election day morning, Jane Corwin obtained a court order from a Justice of the New York Supreme Court that took effect when the polls closed.

Jane Corwin's campaign said such orders are usual in close elections.

Jane Corwin is vice chair of Erie County Industrial Development Agency, Erie County director of economic development, and a member of board of Buffalo Niagara Enterprise which gives economic development assistance to companies in Western New York State.