192nd New York State Legislature

New York state legislative session February 2025 October 2019 192nd January 1, 1997 December 31, 1998 Lt. Gov. Betsy McCaughey Ross (R) Joseph Bruno (R) Sheldon Silver (D) 61 150 Republican (35–26) Democratic 1997: (96–54) 1998: (97–53) 1st January 8 August 4, 1997 2nd January 7 June 19, 1998 3rd December 17 18, 1998 191st 193rd The 192nd New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 8, 1997, to December 31, 1998, during the third and fourth years of George Pataki's governorship, in Albany. Background Under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1938 and the U.S. Supreme Court decision to follow the One man, one vote rule, re-apportioned in 1992 by the Legislature, 61 Senators and 150 assemblymen were elected in single-seat districts for two-year terms. Senate and Assembly districts consisted of approximately the same number of inhabitants, the area being apportioned contiguously without restrictions regarding county boundaries. At this time there were two major political parties: the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. The Reform Party, the Conservative Party, the Liberal Party, the Green Party, the Right to Life Party, the Libertarian Party, the Tax Cut Now Party, the Natural Law Party, the Workers World Party and the Socialist Workers Party also nominated tickets. Elections The 1996 New York state election was held on November 5. No statewide elective offices were up for election. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for U.S. president, was: Democrats 3,650,000; Republicans 1,739,000; Reform 503,000; Conservatives 183,000; Liberals 107,000; Green 76,000; Right to Life 24,000; Libertarians 12,000; Tax Cut Now 11,000; Natural Law 5,000; Workers World 3,500; and Socialist Workers 3,000. All 38 sitting women members of the legislature—State Senators Catherine M. Abate (Dem.), of Manhattan; Nancy Larraine Hoffmann (Dem.), of Syracuse; Olga A. Méndez (Dem.), of East Harlem; Velmanette Montgomery (Dem.), of Brooklyn; Suzi Oppenheimer (Dem.), of Mamaroneck; Mary Lou Rath (Rep.), of Williamsville; Nellie R. Santiago (Dem.), of Brooklyn; and Ada L. Smith (Dem.), of Queens; and Assemblywomen Patricia Acampora (Rep.), of Mattituck; Carmen E. Arroyo (Dem.), of the Bronx; Nancy Calhoun (Rep.), of Blooming Grove; Joan Christensen (Dem.), of Syracuse; Barbara M. Clark (Dem.), of Queens; Elizabeth Connelly (Dem.), of Staten Island; Vivian E. Cook (Dem.) of Queens; RoAnn Destito (Dem.), of Rome; Gloria Davis (Dem.), of the Bronx; Eileen C. Dugan (Dem.), of Brooklyn; Donna Ferrara (Rep.), a lawyer of Westbury; Sandy Galef (Dem.), of Ossining; Deborah J. Glick (Dem.), of Manhattan; Aurelia Greene (Dem.), of the Bronx; Audrey Hochberg (Dem.), of Scarsdale; Earlene Hill Hooper (Dem.), of Hempstead; Rhoda S. Jacobs (Dem.), of Brooklyn; Susan V. John (Dem.), of Rochester; Melinda Katz (Dem.), a lawyer of Queens; Betty Little (Rep.), of Queensbury; Naomi C. Matusow (Dem.), a lawyer of Armonk; Nettie Mayersohn (Dem.), of Queens; Debra J. Mazzarelli (Rep.), of Patchogue; Patricia McGee (Rep.), of Franklinville; Catherine Nolan (Dem.), of Queens; Chloe Ann O'Neil (Rep.), an elementary school teacher of Parishville; Audrey Pheffer (Dem.), of Queens; Frances T. Sullivan (Rep.), of Fulton; Helene Weinstein (Dem.), a lawyer of Brooklyn; and Sandra Lee Wirth (Rep.), of West Seneca—were re-elected. Ann-Margaret Carrozza (Dem.), a lawyer of Queens, was also elected to the Assembly. Eileen C. Dugan died three days after the election. On February 18, 1997, Joan Millman (Dem.), a teacher and librarian of Brooklyn, was elected to fill the vacancy. The 1997 New York state election was held on November 4. One vacancy in the State Senate was filled. On February 3, 1998, Adele Cohen (Dem.), a lawyer of Brooklyn; Kate Murray (Rep.), a lawyer of Levittown; and Maureen O'Connell (Rep.), a registered nurse and lawyer of East Williston; were elected to fill vacancies in the Assembly. On March 24, 1998, Pauline Rhodd-Cummings (Dem.), of Queens, was elected to fill a vacancy in the Assembly. Thus the 192nd Legislature ended having 43 women members, surpassing the previous record of 39 in the 190th New York State Legislature (1994). Sessions The Legislature met for the first regular session (the 220th) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 8, 1997;Pataki Vows Property Tax Cut and Rise in School Spending by Richard Perez-Pena, in The New York Times on January 9, 1997 and recessed indefinitely on August 4.With a Rush, Legislature Ends a Session of Records by Richard Perez-Pena, in The New York Times on August 5, 1997 Sheldon Silver (Dem.) was re-elected Speaker of the Assembly. Joseph Bruno (Rep.) was re-elected Temporary President of the Senate. The Legislature met for the second regular session (the 221st) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 7, 1998;PATAKI PROPOSING HEALTH CARE PLAN FOR YOUNG PEOPLE by B. Drummond Ayres Jr., in The New York Times on January 8, 1998 and recessed indefinitely on June 19.Summary of Major Actions of the 221st Session of the Legislature by Richard Perez-Pena, in The New York Times on June 28, 1998 The Assembly met again on July 29, 1998, to enact a bill on parole which had been approved by the Senate during the regular session.ASSEMBLY PASSES PATAKI'S MEASURE TO LIMIT PAROLE by Raymond Hernandez, in The New York Times on July 30, 1998 The Legislature met again from December 17 to 18, 1998, to enact another piece of legislation concerning the school system of New York City, and to raise the salaries of the members of the next Legislature.Senate Passes Charter Plan For Schools by Clifford J. Levy, in The New York Times on December 18, 1998 State Senate Senators The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Assemblyman Michael Balboni was elected to fill a vacancy in the Senate. Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on (the)..." District Senator Party Notes1stKenneth LaValle* Republican2ndJames J. Lack* Republican3rdCaesar Trunzo* Republican4thOwen H. Johnson* Republican5thCarl L. Marcellino* Republican6thKemp Hannon* Republican 7thMichael J. Tully Jr.* Republicandied on August 5, 1997Michael Balboni* Republicanon November 4, 1997, elected to fill vacancy 8thNorman J. Levy* RepublicanChairman of Transportation; died on February 7, 1998Charles J. Fuschillo Jr. Republicanon March 24, 1998, elected to fill vacancy9thDean Skelos* Republican10thAlton R. Waldon Jr.* Democrat11thFrank Padavan* Republican12thAda L. Smith* Democrat13thEmanuel R. Gold* Democrat14thGeorge Onorato* Democrat15thSerphin R. Maltese* Cons./Rep.16thLeonard P. Stavisky* Democrat17thNellie R. Santiago* Democrat18thVelmanette Montgomery* Democrat19thJohn L. Sampson Democrat20thMarty Markowitz* Democrat21stCarl Kruger* Democrat22ndSeymour P. Lachman* Democrat23rdVincent J. Gentile Democrat24thJohn J. Marchi* Republican25thMartin Connor* DemocratMinority Leader26thRoy M. Goodman* Republican27thCatherine M. Abate Democrat28thOlga A. Méndez* Democrat29thDavid Paterson* Democrat30thFranz S. Leichter* Democrat31stEfrain Gonzalez Jr.* Democrat32ndDavid Rosado Democrat33rdLarry Seabrook* Democrat34thGuy J. Velella* Republican35thNicholas A. Spano* Republican36thSuzi Oppenheimer* Democrat37thVincent Leibell* Republican38thJoseph R. Holland* Republican39thWilliam J. Larkin Jr.* Republican40thCharles D. Cook* Republican41stStephen M. Saland* Republican42ndNeil Breslin Democrat43rdJoseph Bruno* Republicanre-elected Temporary President44thHugh T. Farley* Republican45thRonald B. Stafford* RepublicanChairman of Finance46thJames W. Wright* Republican47thRaymond A. Meier Republican48thNancy Larraine Hoffmann* Democrat49thJohn A. DeFrancisco* Republican50thJames L. Seward* Republican51stThomas W. Libous* Republican52ndRandy Kuhl* Republican53rdMichael F. Nozzolio* Republican54thRichard A. Dollinger* Democrat55thJames S. Alesi* Republican56thJess J. Present* Republicandied on August 8, 199857thAnthony Nanula* Democrat58thWilliam Stachowski* Democrat59thDale M. Volker* Republican60thMary Lou Rath* Republican61stGeorge D. Maziarz* Republican Employees Secretary: Stephen F. Sloan (1997) Steven M. Boggess (1998) State Assembly Assembly members The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on (the)..." District Assembly member Party Notes1stPatricia Acampora* Republican2ndFred W. Thiele Jr.* Republican 3rd Debra J. Mazzarelli* Republican changed party affiliation on May 14, 1997Assemblywoman Switches to Democratic Party by Richard Perez-Pena, in The New York Times on May 15, 1997 Democrat4thSteve Englebright* Democrat5thPaul E. Harenberg* Democrat6thRobert C. Wertz* Republican7thThomas F. Barraga* Republican8thPhil Boyle* Republican9thJohn J. Flanagan* Republican10thJames D. Conte* Republican11thRobert K. Sweeney* Democrat12thSteven L. Labriola Republican13thDavid Sidikman* Democrat14thMarc Herbst* Republican15thDonna Ferrara* Republican16thThomas DiNapoli* Democrat 17thMichael Balboni* Republicanon November 4, 1997, elected to the State SenateMaureen O'Connell Republicanon February 3, 1998, elected to fill vacancyAssemblyman Wins Vote for Flake's Seat by Jonathan P. Hicks, in The New York Times on February 4, 199818thEarlene Hill Hooper* Democrat 19thCharles J. O'Shea* Republicanon November 4, 1997, elected to the Nassau County Board of AssessorsKate Murray Republicanon February 3, 1998, elected to fill vacancy20thHarvey Weisenberg* Democrat21stGregory R. Becker* Republican22ndThomas Alfano* Republican23rdAudrey Pheffer* Democrat24thMark Weprin* Democrat25thBrian M. McLaughlin* Democrat26thAnn-Margaret Carrozza Democrat27thNettie Mayersohn* Democrat28thMelinda Katz* Democrat29thWilliam Scarborough* Democrat30thJoseph Crowley* Democraton November 3, 1998, elected to the 106th U.S. Congress 31stGregory W. Meeks* Democraton February 3, 1998, elected to the 105th U.S. CongressPauline Rhodd-Cummings Democraton March 24, 1998, elected to fill vacancyChoices for the State Legislature; ...In a special election last March, voters...elected Pauline Rhodd-Cummings in The New York Times on September 4, 199832ndVivian E. Cook* Democrat33rdBarbara M. Clark* Democrat34thIvan C. Lafayette* Democrat35thJeffrion L. Aubry* Democrat36thDenis J. Butler* Democrat37thCatherine Nolan* Democrat38thAnthony S. Seminerio* Democrat39thAnthony J. Genovesi* Democratdied on August 10, 199840thEdward Griffith* Democrat41stHelene Weinstein* Democrat42ndRhoda S. Jacobs* Democrat43rdClarence Norman Jr.* Democrat44thJames F. Brennan* Democrat45thDaniel L. Feldman* Democrat 46thJules Polonetsky* Democratin December 1997, appointed as NYC Commissioner of Consumer AffairsAdele Cohen Democraton February 3, 1998, elected to fill vacancy47thWilliam Colton Democrat48thDov Hikind* Democrat49thPeter J. Abbate Jr.* Democrat50thJoseph R. Lentol* Democrat51stFélix W. Ortiz* Democrat 52ndvacant Assemblywoman-elect Eileen C. Dugan died on November 8, 1996Joan Millman Democraton February 18, 1997, elected to fill vacancySpecial Election Tomorrow to Fill Assembly and Council Seats by Jonathan P. Hicks, in The New York Times on February 17, 199753rdVito J. Lopez* Democrat54thDarryl C. Towns* Democrat55thWilliam F. Boyland* Democrat56thAlbert Vann* Democrat57thRoger L. Green* Democrat58thN. Nick Perry Democrat59thElizabeth Connelly* Democrat60thEric N. Vitaliano* Democrat61stRobert A. Straniere* Republican62ndSheldon Silver* Democratre-elected Speaker63rdSteven Sanders* Democrat64thRichard N. Gottfried* Democrat65thAlexander B. Grannis* Democrat66thDeborah J. Glick* Democrat67thScott Stringer* Democrat68thNelson Antonio Denis Democrat69thEdward C. Sullivan* Democrat70thKeith L. T. Wright* Democrat71stHerman D. Farrell Jr.* DemocratChairman of Ways and Means72ndAdriano Espaillat Democrat73rdJohn Ravitz* Republican74thCarmen E. Arroyo* Democrat75thRubén Díaz Jr. Democrat76thPeter M. Rivera* Democrat77thAurelia Greene* Democrat78thRoberto Ramirez* Democrat79thGloria Davis* Democrat80thJeffrey D. Klein* Democrat81stJeffrey Dinowitz* Democrat82ndStephen B. Kaufman* Democrat83rdSamuel Bea Jr.* Democrat84thJ. Gary Pretlow* Democrat85thRonald C. Tocci* Democrat86thRichard L. Brodsky* Democrat87thMike Spano* Republican88thAudrey Hochberg* Democrat89thNaomi C. Matusow* Democrat90thSandy Galef* Democrat91stWillis Stephens* Republican92ndAlexander J. Gromack* Democrat93rdSamuel Colman* Democrat94thNancy Calhoun* Republican95thJohn Bonacic* Republican96thThomas J. Kirwan* Republican97thJoel M. Miller* Republican98thJacob E. Gunther III* Democrat99thPatrick R. Manning* Republican100thRobert A. D'Andrea* Republican101stJohn J. Guerin* Republican102ndJohn Faso* RepublicanMinority Leader from March 2, 1998Republicans in Assembly Select New Leader by Richard Perez-Pena, in The New York Times on March 3, 1998103rdJames Tedisco* Republican104thJohn McEneny* Democrat105thPaul D. Tonko* Democrat106thRonald Canestrari* Democrat107thRobert G. Prentiss* Republican108thPat M. Casale* Republican109thBetty Little* Republican110thChris Ortloff* Republican111thBill Magee* Democrat112thChloe Ann O'Neil* Republican113thMarc W. Butler* Republican114thH. Robert Nortz* Republican115thDavid R. Townsend Jr.* Republican116thRoAnn Destito* Democrat117thFrances T. Sullivan* Republican118thMichael J. Bragman* DemocratMajority Leader119thJoan Christensen* Democrat120thBernard J. Mahoney* Republican121stHarold C. Brown Jr.* Republican122ndClifford W. Crouch* Republican123rdJay J. Dinga* Republican124thRobert J. Warner* Republican125thMartin A. Luster* Democrat126thDaniel J. Fessenden* Republican127thGeorge H. Winner Jr.* Republican128thBob Oaks* Republican129thCraig J. Doran* Republican130thJames Bacalles* Republican131stSusan V. John* Democrat132ndJoseph D. Morelle* Democrat133rdDavid F. Gantt* Democrat134thJoseph Robach* Democrat135thDavid Koon* Democrat136thJerry Johnson* Republican137thCharles H. Nesbitt* Republican138thJoseph T. Pillittere* Democrat139thDavid E. Seaman* Republican140thRobin Schimminger* Democrat141stArthur O. Eve* Democrat142ndRichard R. Anderson* Republican143rdPaul Tokasz* Democrat144thSam Hoyt* Democrat145thRichard J. Keane* Democrat146thRichard A. Smith Democrat147thThomas M. Reynolds* RepublicanMinority Leader until March 2, 1998; on November 3, 1998, elected to the 106th U.S. Congress148thSandra Lee Wirth* Republican149thPatricia McGee* Republican150thWilliam L. Parment* Democrat Employees Clerk: Francine Misasi Notes Sources Results of Voting in New York Races for the State Legislature and the Courts in The New York Times on November 7, 1996 192 Category:1997 in New York (state) Category:1998 in New York (state) Category:1997 U.S. legislative sessions Category:1998 U.S. legislative sessions