In 2015, long-serving State Senator Tom Libous forfeited his Senate seat after being found guilty of lying to the federal authorities. As a result, a special election was called in Senate District 52, and the Republican Party nominated Akshar to replace Libous. While Democrats targeted the seat and ran former Broome County Executive Barbara Fiala against him, Akshar received nearly 78% of the vote and defeated Fiala easily. He was re-elected in 2016 and 2018. In July 2018, Akshar's staff confirmed that Akshar was "in a relationship with Jessica Williams, who until last week was on Akshar's payroll as his director of administration." A report indicated that Williams had "received eight salary increases and three promotions during her roughly 2½ years on Akshar's payroll, rising from a part-timer making $32,600 in 2015 to a full-timer making $85,000 today". Akshar was appointed chair of the Senate Republican Campaign Committee in December 2018, replacing Sen. Catharine Young. Young had attempted to oust Senate Republican Leader John J. Flanagan from his leadership position in November 2018, and Akshar had supported Flanagan. In January 2019, The New York Times noted Akshar's frustration with the continuing push for transgender rights; when "State Senator Jessica Ramos...said lawmakers should go even further to help transgender New Yorkers," Akshar responded, "Jesus Christ! Further?" On January 23, 2019, Akshar voted against the NY DREAM Act, which passed both houses of the State Legislature. The bill would extend state financial aid to undocumented immigrant students who were brought to the United States as children.
Personal life
During his 2015 campaign for New York State Senate, Akshar's opponent accused him of unethical behavior in connection with a 2009 motor vehicle accident involving the nephew of his then-girlfriend, Kate Newcomb. Akshar denied wrongdoing, and no charges were filed following an investigation. In November 2016, PressConnects.com described Kate Newcomb, a captain in the Broome County Sheriff's Office, as Akshar's longtime girlfriend. As of July 2018, Akshar was dating former staffer Jessica Williams. He announced his engagement to Jessica Fiacco in December 2018. In April 2019, Akshar was accused of engaging in an inappropriate relationship with the mother of a murder victim. At that time, Akshar acknowledged having had a "brief, consensual relationship" with Mirella Masciarelli some years earlier. Masciarelli was the mother of Mario Masciarelli, whose 2013 murder Akshar had helped to investigate; Akshar also testified at a pretrial hearing in the case. Masciarelli described Akshar as a "predator" who "'interjected himself into life in a way that...was not professional as a captain in the Broome County Sheriff's Office'" and took advantage of her grief over the loss of her son. Akshar denied any wrongdoing and accused Masciarelli of engaging in an "attempted smear campaign". As of January 2019, Akshar resides in Endwell, New York.
