Representative Anthony Francis Tauriello

Anthony Francis Tauriello (August 14, 1899 – December 21, 1983) was an American politician and attorney who represented New York’s 43rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1949 to 1951. A member of the Democratic Party, he served one term in Congress and contributed to the legislative process during a significant period in American history, representing the interests of his constituents in western New York.

Tauriello was born in Buffalo, New York, on August 14, 1899. Raised in the city he would later represent in various public offices, he pursued legal studies as a foundation for his career in public service. He graduated with a law degree from Cumberland University in 1929, entering the legal profession as an attorney. His legal training and practice helped establish his reputation in Buffalo and Erie County and prepared him for a series of elected and appointed positions in local government.

Tauriello’s public career began at the county level. He served as a member of the Erie County Board of Supervisors from 1933 to 1937, participating in the administration of county affairs during the challenging years of the Great Depression. He then advanced to municipal office as a member of the Buffalo Common Council, serving from 1938 to 1941. After a brief interval away from that body, he returned to the Buffalo Common Council in 1948, reinforcing his standing as a prominent Democratic figure in Buffalo’s local politics.

Building on his local and county experience, Tauriello was elected to the United States House of Representatives as a Democrat and served from January 3, 1949, to January 3, 1951. In Congress, he represented New York’s 43rd congressional district during the early post–World War II era, a time marked by domestic economic adjustment, the onset of the Cold War, and the beginning of major federal initiatives in housing, veterans’ affairs, and infrastructure. As a member of the House of Representatives, Anthony Francis Tauriello participated in the democratic process at the national level and worked to advance the interests and concerns of his Buffalo-area constituents.

Tauriello sought to continue his congressional service but was unsuccessful in his bid for reelection in 1950. He again ran for Congress in 1952 and was again defeated, which ended his tenure in national office. Nonetheless, he remained active in public life and returned to municipal service. From 1954 to 1957, he once more served on the Buffalo Common Council, contributing to the governance and development of the city during a period of postwar urban change.

In later years, Tauriello continued his involvement in public affairs through appointed office. He was a member of the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority from 1961 to 1973, a role that placed him at the center of local efforts to address housing needs, urban renewal, and the administration of public housing programs. His long service on the authority reflected his sustained engagement with issues of municipal management and community welfare in Buffalo.

Anthony Francis Tauriello died in Buffalo, New York, on December 21, 1983. He was interred at United German and French Cemetery in Cheektowaga, New York, a suburb of Buffalo. His family’s involvement in public service extended to the next generation; State Senator Joseph A. Tauriello (1934–2009), who served in the New York State Senate, was his nephew.