William Colton was elected to the New York State Assembly in November 1996, representing the 47th Assembly District, consisting of the neighborhoods of southwestern Brooklyn. He was educated at St. Athanasius School and graduated from Cathedral Prep., the minor seminary of the Diocese of Brooklyn. In 1968, he received a B.A. degree in Urban Education from St. John's University. He also was awarded an M.S. degree in Urban Education from Brooklyn College. In 1978, he graduated from St. John's School of Law with a J.D. degree.
Long active in community and civic affairs, William Colton is a founder of the Bensonhurst Straphangers Committee; fighting for more monies for schools in Districts 20 and 21; serving as the attorney in the successful lawsuit to stop the re-opening of the Southwest Brooklyn Incinerator; fighting for numerous community improvements, such as traffic lights, sewers, vermin and rodent extermination; and assisting in the organizing of community projects, such as Project Option to work for cleaning up of commercial shopping areas, among others.
William Colton has been the recipient of numerous community awards, including the Civic Service Award from the Building Maintenance Education Program of NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the Meritorious Civic Service Certificate from the New York City Division of Preservation and Anti-Abandonment, the Outstanding Community Service Award from the Bensonhurst Tenants Council and the 1996 Man of the Year Award from the Bensonhurst West End Community Council.
He was appointed Chair of the Legislative Commission on Solid Waste Management and currently serves as Majority Whip. He also has been a leader in the successful fight to ban fracking in New York State and helped introduce legislation to achieve 100% fossil fuel energy standard by 2030 and a co-sponsor of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019 committee to 100% zero emissions by 2040.
Standing Committee Assignments 2013-present: Correction; Environmental Conservation; Governmental Employees; Labor; Rules, and Ways and Means.