FREDERICK E. PAROLA

BIOGRAPHY

Frederick E. Parola, Executive Director of the Town of Hempstead Industrial Development Agency (IDA), was born on August 29, 1946.  A lifelong resident of Wantagh, Fred Parola attended Wantagh Elementary schools and Wantagh High School and graduated from Hartwick College and Albany Law School.  He served in the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office upon receiving his law degree.

	Mr. Parola’s legislative experience began as an Assembly counsel on Higher Education and the Committee on Commerce and Industrial Development, as well as a Senate counsel on the Crime and Corrections Committee under Senator Ralph J. Marino.  In addition to his Legislative Counsel duties, Mr. Parola had a variety of governmental experience prior to his appointment at the Town of Hempstead Industrial Development Agency.  He was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1978, serving with distinction until he was elected Nassau County Comptroller, taking office in January 1994.  From 1972 to 1980, he was a member of the Nassau County Youth Board and served as a member of the Town of Hempstead Housing Authority from 1974-1979.

	In the State Assembly, Mr. Parola focused on eliminating excessive government spending and runaway taxes while proposing to correct abusive public sector practices.  While in Albany, Parola was one of the most articulate advocates for education and earned the highest ratings of any legislator on environmental issues.

	As the former County Comptroller, Fred was considered a no-nonsense reformer.  He was independent of the County Executive and the Administration and the Legislature to ensure that he could objectively investigate and oversee all the county’s financial operations.  His aggressive investigations have saved Nassau taxpayers millions of dollars and his excellence in financial reporting earned him the Government Finance Officers Award for eight consecutive years.

Mr. Parola became the Executive Director of the Town of Hempstead Industrial Development Agency in January 2002.  He is the agency’s Executive Director, Chief Executive Officer and liaison to the public. 

Hon. Fred Parola and his wife Norene reside in Wantagh with their two children.