187th New York State Legislature

New York state legislative session February 2025 October 2019 December 2024 187th January 1, 1987 December 31, 1988 Lt. Gov. Stan Lundine (D) Warren M. Anderson (R) Mel Miller (D) 61 150 Republican (35–26) Democratic 1987: (94–56) 1988: (93–57) 1st January 7 July 11, 1987 2nd January 6 August 25, 1988 3rd November 28 December 1, 1988 4th December 28, 1988 186th 188th The 187th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 7, 1987, to December 31, 1988, during the fifth and sixth years of Mario Cuomo'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 1982 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 Conservative Party, the Right to Life Party, the Liberal Party, the New Alliance Party and the Socialist Workers Party also nominated tickets. Elections The 1986 New York state election, was held on November 4. Governor Mario Cuomo was re-elected, and Congressman Stan Lundine was elected Lieutenant Governor, both Democrats. The elections to the other three statewide elective offices resulted in the re-election of the three incumbent officeholders: a Republican Comptroller, a Democratic Attorney General and a Republican U.S. Senator. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for Governor, was: Democrats 2,655,000; Republicans 1,212,000; Conservatives 152,000; Right to Life 131,000; Liberals 120,000; New Alliance 24,000. The Socialist Workers' candidate for U.S. Senator polled about 7,300 votes. 21 of the 24 women members of the previous legislature—State Senators Mary B. Goodhue (Rep.), a lawyer of Mount Kisco; Nancy Larraine Hoffmann (Dem.), of Syracuse; Olga A. Méndez (Dem.), of East Harlem; Velmanette Montgomery (Dem.), of Brooklyn; and Suzi Oppenheimer (Dem.), of Mamaroneck; and Assemblywomen Elizabeth Connelly (Dem.), of Staten Island; Pinny Cooke (Rep.), of Rochester; Geraldine L. Daniels (Dem.), of the Bronx; Gloria Davis (Dem.), of the Bronx; Eileen C. Dugan (Dem.), of Brooklyn; Aurelia Greene (Dem.), of the Bronx; Rhoda S. Jacobs (Dem.), of Brooklyn; Cynthia Jenkins (Dem.), a librarian of Queens; Gerdi E. Lipschutz (Dem.), of Queens; Helen M. Marshall (Dem.), a teacher and librarian of Queens; Nettie Mayersohn (Dem.), of Queens; Mary M. McPhillips (Dem.), of Middletown; Catherine Nolan (Dem.), of Queens; Barbara Patton (Dem.), a lawyer of Hempstead; Toni Rettaliata (Rep.), of Huntington; and Helene Weinstein (Dem.), a lawyer of Brooklyn—were re-elected. Barbara M. Clark (Dem.), of Queens, was also elected to the Assembly. On April 28, 1987, Audrey Pheffer (Dem.), of Queens, was elected to fill the vacancy in the Assembly caused by the resignation of Gerdi E. Lipschutz. On June 16, 1987, Patricia McGee (Rep.), of Franklinville, was elected to fill a vacancy in the Assembly. The 1987 New York state election was held on November 3. Assemblywoman Toni Rettaliata (Rep.) was elected as Supervisor of the Town of Huntington. On March 15, 1988, Earlene Hill Hooper (Dem.), of Hempstead, was elected to fill the vacancy in the Assembly caused by the appointment of Barbara Patton to the NYS Workers' Compensation Board. Thus a total of 25 women were members of this Legislature, but not more than 23 at the same time. Sessions The Legislature met for the first regular session (the 210th) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 7, 1987;CUOMO EMPHASIZES CURB ON SPENDING by Jeffrey Schmalz, in The New York Times on January 8, 1987 and recessed indefinitely in the morning of July 11.PAY RAISES VOTED AS BITTER SESSION CLOSES IN ALBANY by Jeffrey Schmalz, in The New York Times on July 12, 1987 Mel Miller (Dem.) was elected Speaker of the Assembly. Warren M. Anderson (Rep.) was re-elected Temporary President of the Senate. The Legislature met for the second regular session (the 211th) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 6, 1988;CUOMO ISSUES CALL TO HELP CHILDREN by Jeffrey Schmalz, in The New York Times on January 7, 1988 and recessed indefinitely in the morning of August 25.Albany Passes Numerous Bills Prior to Recess by Elizabeth Kolbert, in The New York Times on August 26, 1988 The Legislature met again from November 28, to December 1, 1988. This session was called, among other issues, to consider legislation concerning the Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant.Shoreham Closing Still Uncertain As the Legislators Leave Albany by Elizabeth Kolbert, in The New York Times on December 2, 1988 The Legislature met again on December 28, 1988, to increase the salaries of the next session's state legislators, and the state commissioners.Gap Remains as Albany Votes Stipend Increase by Elizabeth Kolbert, in The New York Times on December 29, 1988 State Senate Senators The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Nicholas A. Spano and Randy Kuhl changed from the Assembly to the Senate. Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on (the)..." District Senator Party Notes1stKenneth LaValle* Rep./Cons.2ndJames J. Lack* Rep./Cons.3rdCaesar Trunzo* Rep./Cons.4thOwen H. Johnson* Rep./Cons.5thRalph J. Marino* Rep./Cons.6thJohn R. Dunne* Rep./Cons.Chairman of Judiciary; Deputy Majority Leader7thMichael J. Tully Jr.* Rep./Cons.8thNorman J. Levy* Rep./Cons.Chairman of Transportation9thDean Skelos* Rep./Cons.10thAndrew Jenkins* Democrat11thFrank Padavan* Rep./Cons.12thLeonard P. Stavisky* Dem./Rep./Lib.13thEmanuel R. Gold* Democrat14thGeorge Onorato* Democrat15thMartin J. Knorr* Rep./Cons./RTL16thJeremy S. Weinstein* Dem./Lib.17thHoward E. Babbush* Dem./Lib.18thDonald Halperin* Democrat19thMartin M. Solomon* Democrat20thThomas J. Bartosiewicz* Democrat21stMarty Markowitz* Democrat22ndVelmanette Montgomery* Dem./Lib.23rdChristopher J. Mega* Rep./Cons.24thJohn J. Marchi* Rep./Dem./Lib.Chairman of Finance25thMartin Connor* Dem./Lib.26thRoy M. Goodman* Rep./Lib.27thManfred Ohrenstein* Dem./Lib.Minority Leader28thFranz S. Leichter* Dem./Lib.29thDavid Paterson* Democrat30thOlga A. Méndez* Dem./Lib.31stJoseph L. Galiber* Dem./Lib.32ndIsrael Ruiz Jr.* Dem./Lib.33rdAbraham Bernstein* Dem./Lib.34thGuy J. Velella* Rep./Cons./RTL35thNicholas A. Spano* Rep./Cons.36thSuzi Oppenheimer* Dem./Lib.37thMary B. Goodhue* Rep./Cons.38thEugene Levy* Rep./Cons.39thRichard E. Schermerhorn* Rep./Cons.40thCharles D. Cook* Rep./Cons.41stJay P. Rolison Jr.* Rep./Cons.42ndHoward C. Nolan Jr.* Democrat43rdJoseph Bruno* Rep./Cons.44thHugh T. Farley* Rep./Cons.Chairman of Environmental Conservation45thRonald B. Stafford* Rep./Cons.46thJohn M. McHugh* Rep./Cons.47thJames H. Donovan* Rep./Cons.Chairman of Education48thNancy Larraine Hoffmann* Democrat49thTarky Lombardi Jr.* Rep./Cons.50thJames L. Seward Rep./Cons.51stWarren M. Anderson* Rep./Cons.re-elected Temporary President52ndRandy Kuhl* Rep./Cons.53rdL. Paul Kehoe* Rep./Cons.54thJohn D. Perry* Democrat55thRalph E. Quattrociocchi* Dem./Cons.56thJess J. Present* Republican57thWilliam Stachowski* Dem./Cons.58thAnthony M. Masiello* Dem./Lib.59thDale M. Volker* Rep./Cons.60thWalter J. Floss Jr.* Rep./Cons.61stJohn B. Daly* Rep./Cons./RTL Employees Secretary: Stephen F. Sloan 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 Notes1stJoseph Sawicki Jr.* Rep./Cons.2ndJohn L. Behan* Rep./Cons.3rdIcilio W. Bianchi Jr.* Democrat4thRobert J. Gaffney* Rep./RTL5thPaul E. Harenberg* Democrat6thRobert C. Wertz* Rep./Cons./RTL7thThomas F. Barraga* Rep./Cons./RTL8thJohn C. Cochrane* Rep./Cons.9thJohn J. Flanagan Rep./Cons./RTL 10thToni Rettaliata* Rep./Cons.on November 3, 1987, elected as Supervisor of HuntingtonJames D. Conte Republicanon March 15, 1988, elected to fill vacancy 11thPatrick G. Halpin* Democraton November 3, 1987, elected as Suffolk County ExecutiveRobert K. Sweeney Democraton March 15, 1988, elected to fill vacancy12thPhilip B. Healey* Rep./Cons.13thLewis J. Yevoli* Democrat14thFrederick E. Parola* Rep./Cons.15thDaniel Frisa* Rep./Cons.16thThomas DiNapoli Dem./Lib.17thKemp Hannon* Rep./Cons. 18thBarbara Patton* Dem./Lib.in January 1988 appointed to the NYS Workers' Compensation BoardNew York Red Book (pg. 808)Earlene Hill Hooper Democraton March 15, 1988, elected to fill vacancy 19thArmand P. D'Amato* Republicanresigned on February 23, 1987.D'Amato's Brother Quits Assembly Post in The New York Times on February 24, 1987Charles J. O'Shea Republicanon April 7, 1987, elected to fill vacancyL.I. Official Elected To State Assembly in The New York Times on April 9, 198720thArthur J. Kremer* Dem./Lib.resigned on December 14, 1988After Fall From Power, an Assemblyman Resigns by Frank Lynn, in The New York Times on December 15, 1988 21stGregory R. Becker* Rep./Cons.22ndGeorge H. Madison* Rep./Cons. 23rdGerdi E. Lipschutz* Dem./Lib.resigned on March 9, 1987A LEGISLATOR QUITS AS PANEL URGES PENALTY in The New York Times on March 10, 1987Audrey Pheffer Democraton April 28, 1987, elected to fill vacancyDEMOCRAT WINS QUEENS RACE FOR A VACANT ASSEMBLY SEAT in The New York Times on April 29, 198724thSaul Weprin* DemocratChairman of Ways and MeansDEPOSED PANEL CHIEF ASSAILS SPEAKER OF ASSEMBLY by Elizabeth Kolbert, in The New York Times on January 9, 198725thDouglas Prescott* Rep./Cons./RTL26thMorton C. Hillman Democrat27thNettie Mayersohn* Democrat28thAlan G. Hevesi* Democrat29thCynthia Jenkins* Dem./Lib.30thJoseph Crowley Democrat31stAnthony S. Seminerio* Dem./Cons.32ndEdward Abramson* Democrat33rdBarbara M. Clark Democrat34thIvan C. Lafayette* Democrat35thHelen M. Marshall* Democrat36thDenis J. Butler* Democrat37thCatherine Nolan* Democrat38thFrederick D. Schmidt* Dem./RTL39thAnthony J. Genovesi Democrat40thEdward Griffith* Dem./Lib.41stHelene Weinstein* Democrat42ndRhoda S. Jacobs* Dem./Lib.43rdClarence Norman Jr.* Democrat44thMel Miller* Dem./Lib.elected SpeakerASSEMBLY'S NEW SPEAKER DISAGREES WITH CUOMO by Frank Lynn, in The New York Times on January 8, 198745thDaniel L. Feldman* Democrat46thHoward L. Lasher* Dem./Lib.47thFrank J. Barbaro* Dem./Lib.48thDov Hikind* Democrat49thPeter J. Abbate Jr. Democrat50thJoseph R. Lentol* Democrat51stJames F. Brennan* Dem./Lib.52ndEileen C. Dugan* Dem./Lib.53rdVito J. Lopez* Dem./Lib.54thThomas F. Catapano* Dem./Lib.55thWilliam F. Boyland* Dem./Lib.56thAlbert Vann* LiberalVann and Green were denied to run in the Democratic primary, on technicalities, and were re-elected on the Liberal ticket only, see CANDIDATES RULED OFF PRIMARY BALLOT in The New York Times on September 5, 198657thRoger L. Green* Liberal58thElizabeth Connelly* Democrat59thEric N. Vitaliano* Dem./Cons.60thRobert A. Straniere* Rep./Cons./RTL61stWilliam F. Passannante* Dem./Lib.62ndSheldon Silver* Dem./Lib.Chairman of Codes63rdSteven Sanders* Dem./Lib.64thRichard N. Gottfried* Dem./Lib.65thAlexander B. Grannis* Dem./Lib.66thMark Alan Siegel* Dem./Lib.67thJerrold Nadler* Dem./Lib.68thAngelo Del Toro* Democrat69thEdward C. Sullivan* Dem./Lib.70thGeraldine L. Daniels* Dem./Lib.71stHerman D. Farrell Jr.* Democrat72ndJohn Brian Murtaugh* Dem./Lib.73rdJosé E. Serrano* Dem./Lib.74thHector L. Diaz* Dem./Lib.75thJohn C. Dearie* Dem./Lib.76thAurelia Greene* Dem./Lib. 77thJose Rivera* Dem./Lib.on November 3, 1987, elected to the New York City CouncilIsrael Martinez Democraton March 15, 1988, elected to fill vacancy78thGloria Davis* Democrat79thGeorge Friedman* Dem./Lib.80thG. Oliver Koppell* Dem./Lib.Chairman of Judiciary81stEliot Engel* Dem./Lib.on November 8, 1988, elected to the 101st U.S. Congress82ndLarry Seabrook* Dem./Lib.83rdTerence M. Zaleski Democrat84thGordon W. Burrows* Rep./Cons.on November 8, 1988, elected to the New York Supreme CourtG. W. Burrows, 70, Lawmaker And State Supreme Court Justice by John T. McQuiston, in The New York Times on January 20, 199785thRonald C. Tocci* Democrat86thRichard L. Brodsky* Democrat87thPeter M. Sullivan* Rep./Cons.88thGregory P. Young* Dem./Lib.89thHenry William Barnett* Rep./Cons.90thVincent Leibell* Rep./Cons.91stGeorge E. Pataki* Rep./Cons.92ndRobert J. Connor* Dem./Lib.93rdSamuel Colman* Dem./Lib.94thMary M. McPhillips* Democrat95thWilliam J. Larkin Jr.* Rep./Cons.96thLawrence E. Bennett* Democrat97thStephen M. Saland* Rep./Cons.98thRichard I. Coombe* Rep./Cons.99thGlenn E. Warren* Rep./Cons.100thNeil W. Kelleher* Rep./Cons./RTL101stMaurice D. Hinchey* Dem./Lib.102ndJohn Faso Republican103rdArnold W. Proskin* Rep./Cons.104thRichard J. Conners* Dem./Lib.105thPaul D. Tonko* Dem./Lib.106thMichael R. McNulty* Dem./Lib.on November 8, 1988, elected to the 101st U.S. Congress107thJames Tedisco* Rep./Cons.108thRobert A. D'Andrea* Rep./Cons.109thGlenn H. Harris* Rep./Cons.110thChris Ortloff* Rep./Cons.111thJohn W. McCann* Rep./Cons.112thJohn G. A. O'Neil* Rep./Cons.113thAnthony J. Casale* Rep./Cons.114thH. Robert Nortz* Rep./Cons.115thWilliam R. Sears* Rep./Cons./RTL116thRalph J. Eannace Jr. Rep./Cons.117thRay T. Chesbro* Rep./Cons.118thMichael J. Bragman* Democrat119thWilliam E. Bush* Rep./Cons.120thMelvin N. Zimmer* Democrat121stHyman M. Miller* Rep./Cons.122ndClarence D. Rappleyea Jr.* RepublicanMinority Leader123rdRichard H. Miller* Rep./Cons.124thJames R. Tallon Jr.* DemocratMajority Leader from April 28, 1987New Majority Leader For Assembly Named in The New York Times on April 29, 1987125thHugh S. MacNeil* Republican126thGeorge H. Winner Jr.* Rep./Cons.127thDonald R. Davidsen Republican128thMichael F. Nozzolio* Rep./Cons.129thFrank G. Talomie Sr.* Rep./Cons.130thRobert L. King Rep./Cons.131stGary Proud* Dem./Rep.132ndPinny Cooke* Rep./Cons.133rdDavid F. Gantt* Democrat134thRoger J. Robach* Dem./Cons.135thJames F. Nagle* Rep./Cons.136thJohn W. Hasper Republican137thR. Stephen Hawley* Rep./Cons.138thJoseph T. Pillittere* Dem./Lib.139thMatthew J. Murphy Jr.* Dem./Cons./RTL140thRobin L. Schimminger* Democrat141stArthur O. Eve* Dem./Lib.142ndJohn B. Sheffer II* Rep./Cons. 143rdDennis T. Gorski* Dem./Cons.on November 3, 1987, elected as Erie County ExecutivePaul Tokasz Democraton March 15, 1988, elected to fill vacancy144thWilliam B. Hoyt* Dem./Lib.145thRichard J. Keane* Dem./Cons.146thFrancis J. Pordum* Dem./Cons.147thL. William Paxon* Rep./Cons./RTLon November 8, 1988, elected to the 101st U.S. Congress148thVincent J. Graber Sr.* Dem./Cons. 149thDaniel B. Walsh* DemocratMajority Leader; resigned his seat effective April 26, 1987DROP IN SEAT-BELT USE CITED AS STATE'S ROAD DEATHS RISE; ...Daniel B. Walsh, the majority leader...resigned...effective April 26... in The New York Times on April 15, 1987Patricia McGee Republicanon June 16, 1987, elected to fill vacancyALBANY SURROGACY BILL IS WITHDRAWN; ...Patricia McGee, the Republican candidate...defeated Gloria Bilotta, the Democrat... by Jeffrey Schmalz, in The New York Times on April 15, 1987150thWilliam L. Parment* Dem./Lib. Employees Clerk: Francine Misasi Notes Sources Balloting for State Senate: New York's 61 Districts in The New York Times on November 6, 1986 Vote Totals for Races in the New York State Assembly in The New York Times on November 6, 1986 Democrats Take Assembly Seats In 4 of 5 Races by Frank Lynn, in The New York Times on March 16, 1988 187 Category:1987 in New York (state) Category:1988 in New York (state) Category:1987 U.S. legislative sessions Category:1988 U.S. legislative sessions