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Testimonials

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Paul Tonna

Associations

The Honorable Paul Jude Tonna is Managing Partner of Praxis Public Relations, Inc., a Long Island and Queens-based public affairs firm.

Paul served in the Suffolk County Legislature from 1994 to 2005, including three years as Presiding Officer. During his tenure, he was a leading advocate for the poor, homeless, and marginalized, as well as for workforce housing and environmental protection. He sponsored and helped enact significant legislation, including groundbreaking non-smoking laws, initiatives to combat child poverty and homelessness, measures to improve quality of life for Suffolk residents, and the creation of Greenway funds to preserve open space and farmland.

In addition to his public service, Paul is a former adjunct professor of theology and religious studies at St. John’s University. He has held key leadership roles including Chairman of the Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency and Vice Chairman of the Long Island Regional Planning Council. He remains active in numerous nonprofit organizations, serving on the boards of the Advanced Energy Research & Technology Center at Stony Brook University and the Long Island Real Estate Group, and as Chairman of both the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society and the Jones Beach Lifeguard Association.

Paul currently serves as Executive Director of several regional organizations, including the Suffolk County Village Officials Association, Build Green Long Island (USGBC-LI Chapter), The Energeia Partnership–a leadership organization dedicated to identifying and addressing serious, complex and multi-dimensional issues challenging the Long Island region, and the Long Island Facility Owners Network–an association committed to education, innovation, and advocacy in the facilities and construction industry. He is also Chairman and an elected Commissioner of the South Huntington Water District.

His contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including Eagle Scout; Molloy University’s Caritas Medal; St. John’s University’s St. Vincent de Paul Medal; Suffolk County Human Rights Commission Legislator of the Year; National Association of Social Workers Public Citizen of the Year; Habitat for Humanity Man of the Year; The Nature Conservancy Conservation Award; the ACIT Award; the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission Public Service Award; and recognition from the American Jewish Committee and the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society.

Paul holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from New York University and a master’s degree in theology from Immaculate Conception Seminary. He also pursued doctoral studies in systematic theology at Fordham University. He resides in Huntington, New York with his wife, Carol, and his children Peter, Paul, John, Grace, Mary, Carolann, Joseph and Lucy.

Awards & Honors