185th New York State Legislature

New York state legislative session February 2025 October 2019 December 2024 185th January 1, 1983 December 31, 1984 Lt. Gov. Alfred DelBello (D) Warren M. Anderson (R) Stanley Fink (D) 61 150 Republican (35–26) Democratic (98–52) 1st January 5 June 28, 1983 2nd September 15, 1983 3rd January 4 July 1, 1984 4th December 6, 1984 184th 186th The 185th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 5, 1983, to December 31, 1984, during the first and second years of Mario Cuomo's governorship, in Albany. Background On May 8, 1982, Senate Republicans and Assembly Democrats announced that they had agreed upon a new apportionment. The number of seats in the State Senate was increased from 60 to 61.DISTRICTING PLAN DRAWN IN ALBANY; SOME INCUMBENTS MAY LOSE SEATS by E. J. Dionne Jr, in The New York Times on May 9, 1982 The new district lines were gerrymandered by the Republican Senate majority to increase Republican strength, and by the Democratic Assembly majority to increase Democratic strength.HOW NEW LINES WILL AFFECT POLITICAL RACES by James Feron, in The New York Times on May 16, 1982 On June 23, 1982, a special panel of three federal judges ordered Special Master Robert P. Patterson Jr. to revise the new apportionment proposed by the Legislature.COURT APPOINTEES TO MODIFY REDISTRICTING PLAN FOR STATE by Arnold H. Lubasch, in The New York Times on June 24, 1982 On July 3, 1982, the revised re-apportionment was approved by the U.S. Department of Justice.NEW REDISTRICTING BY NEW YORK STATE IS APPROVED BY U.S. by Jane Perlez, in The New York Times on July 4, 1982 Thus, 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 Liberal Party, the Right to Life Party, the Libertarian Party, a "Statewide Independent Party", a "Unity Party", the New Alliance Party, and the Socialist Workers Party also nominated tickets. Elections The 1982 New York state election was held on November 2. Lieutenant Governor Mario Cuomo was elected Governor, and Westchester County Executive Alfred DelBello 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 Democratic U.S. Senator. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for Governor, was: Democrats 2,560,000; Republicans 2,249,000; Conservatives 230,000; Liberals 116,000; Right to Life 52,000; Libertarians 17,000; Statewide Independents 16,000; Unity 6,000; New Alliance 5,000; and Socialist Workers 4,000. Sixteen of the nineteen women members of the previous legislature—State Senators Carol Berman (Dem.), of Lawrence; Mary B. Goodhue (Rep.), a lawyer of Mount Kisco; Olga A. Méndez (Dem.), of East Harlem, and Linda Winikow (Dem.), of Spring Valley; 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; Gerdi E. Lipschutz (Dem.), of Queens; May W. Newburger (Dem.), of Great Neck; Toni Rettaliata (Rep.), of Huntington; Gail S. Shaffer (Dem.), of North Blenheim; and Helene Weinstein (Dem.), a lawyer of Brooklyn—were re-elected. Anna V. Jefferson (Dem.), an accountant of Brooklyn, was also elected to the State Senate. Cynthia Jenkins (Dem.), a librarian of Queens; Helen M. Marshall (Dem.), a teacher and librarian of Queens; Nettie Mayersohn (Dem.), of Queens; Mary M. McPhillips (Dem.), of Middletown; Barbara Patton (Dem.), a lawyer of Hempstead; and Louise M. Slaughter (Dem.), of Fairport; were also elected to the Assembly. Gail S. Shaffer did not take her seat in the Assembly, and was appointed as Secretary of State of New York instead. On May 24, 1983, Julia Harrison (Dem.), of Queens, was elected to fill a vacancy in the Assembly. Thus the 185th Legislature finished having 23 women members, surpassing the previous record of 19 in the 184th New York State Legislature (in 1982). The 1983 New York state election was held on November 8. One vacancy in the Assembly was filled. Sessions The Legislature met for the first regular session (the 206th) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 5, 1983;CUOMO ISSUES CALL FOR "PARTNERSHIP" TO SPARK GROWTH by Josh Barbanel, in The New York Times on January 6, 1983 and recessed indefinitely on June 28.CUOMO EXPECTS NEW BOND ISSUE TO REBUILD STATE by Josh Barbanel, in The New York Times on June 29, 1983 Stanley Fink (Dem.) was re-elected Speaker of the Assembly. Warren M. Anderson (Rep.) was re-elected Temporary President of the Senate. The Legislature met for a special session on September 15, 1983, to consider changes to the laws concerning transportation of cargoes.BILL APPROVED TO PERMIT BIGGER TRUCKS ON ROADS by Edward A. Gargan, in The New York Times on September 16, 1983 The Legislature met for the second regular session (the 207th) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 4, 1984;CUOMO PROPOSES A BROAD AGENDA IN ANNUAL SPEECH by Josh Barbanel, in The New York Times on January 5, 1984 and recessed indefinitely shortly before 2 a.m. on July 1.AFTER ONE FINAL BATTLE, LEGISLATURE GOES HOME by Edward A. Gargan, in The New York Times on July 2, 1984 An hour after midnight, on May 30, the State Assembly rejected after a stormy debate of many hours the proposal to raise the legal drinking age from 19 to 21 years; the vote stood 80 to 69.MEASURE TO RAISE DRINKING AGE TO 21 LOSES IN NEW YORK by Michael Oreskes, in The New York Times on May 30, 1984 The Legislature met for another special session on December 6, 1984. At this session, the legislators raised the wages of the legislators who were elected to the next Legislature; approved a sales tax increase for Erie County; and extended a corporate tax surcharge used to subsidize the New York City mass transit system.EXTENSION OF TAX TO RETAIN FARES VOTED IN ALBANY by Michael Oreskes, in The New York Times on December 7, 1984 State Senate Senators The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Andrew Jenkins and Lloyd Stephen Riford Jr. changed from the Assembly to the Senate at the beginning of this Legislature. Assemblyman Leonard P. Stavisky 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* Rep./Cons.2ndJames J. Lack* Rep./Cons.3rdCaesar Trunzo* Rep./Cons./RTL4thOwen H. Johnson* Rep./Cons./RTL5thRalph J. Marino* Rep./Cons.6thJohn R. Dunne* Rep./Cons.7thMichael J. Tully Jr.* Rep./Cons.8thNorman J. Levy* Rep./Cons.Chairman of Transportation9thCarol Berman* Dem./Lib.10thAndrew Jenkins* Dem./Lib.11thFrank Padavan* Rep./Cons./RTL 12thGary L. Ackerman* Dem./Lib.on March 1, 1983, elected to the 98th U.S. CongressLeonard P. Stavisky* Democraton April 12, 1983, elected to fill vacancySTAVISKY WINS RACE FOR STATE SENATE in The New York Times on April 13, 198313thEmanuel R. Gold* Dem./Lib. 14thAnthony V. Gazzara* Dem./Cons./RTLon May 23, 1983, appointed as Chairman of the NYS Liquor AuthorityHEAD OF STATE LIQUOR AGENCY GETS EMERGENCY POWERS FOR SIX MONTHS by Selwyn Raab, in The New York Times on July 18, 1983George Onorato Democraton June 28, 1983, elected to fill vacancyONORATO, DEMOCRAT, TAKESSENATE RACE IN A QUEENS DISTRICT in The New York Times on June 29, 198315thMartin J. Knorr* Rep./Cons./RTL16thJeremy S. Weinstein* Dem./Lib.17thHoward E. Babbush* Dem./Lib.18thDonald Halperin* Democrat19thMartin M. Solomon* Democrat20thThomas J. Bartosiewicz* Democrat21stMarty Markowitz* Democrat22ndAnna V. Jefferson Democrat23rdJoseph G. Montalto Dem./Lib.24thJohn J. Marchi* Rep./Dem./Cons.Chairman of Finance25thMartin Connor* Dem./Lib.26thRoy M. Goodman* Rep./Lib.27thManfred Ohrenstein* Dem./Lib.Minority Leader28thFranz S. Leichter* Dem./Lib.29thLeon Bogues* Dem./Lib.30thOlga A. Méndez* Dem./Lib.31stJoseph L. Galiber* Dem./Lib.32ndIsrael Ruiz Jr.* Dem./Lib.33rdAbraham Bernstein* Dem./Lib.34thJohn D. Calandra* Rep./Cons./RTL35thJohn E. Flynn* Rep./Cons./RTL36thJoseph R. Pisani* Rep./Cons.resigned on June 27, 1984ALBANY LEADERS DRAFT A PROPOSAL ON MALPRACTICE in The New York Times on June 28, 198437thMary B. Goodhue* Rep./Cons.38thLinda Winikow* Dem./Lib.39thRichard E. Schermerhorn* Rep./Cons./RTL40thCharles D. Cook* Rep./Cons.41stJay P. Rolison Jr.* Rep./Cons.42ndHoward C. Nolan Jr.* Dem./Lib.43rdJoseph Bruno* Rep./Cons.44thHugh T. Farley* Rep./Cons./RTL45thRonald B. Stafford* Rep./Cons.46thHugh Douglas Barclay* Rep./Cons.47thJames H. Donovan* Rep./Cons.Chairman of Education48thMartin S. Auer* Rep./Cons.49thTarky Lombardi Jr.* Rep./Cons.50thLloyd Stephen Riford Jr.* Rep./Cons.51stWarren M. Anderson* Rep./Cons.re-elected Temporary President52ndWilliam T. Smith* Rep./Cons.53rdL. Paul Kehoe* Rep./Cons.54thJohn D. Perry* Democrat55thWilliam M. Steinfeldt* Republican56thJess J. Present* Republican57thWilliam Stachowski* Democrat58thAnthony M. Masiello* Dem./Lib.59thDale M. Volker* Rep./Cons./RTL60thWalter J. Floss Jr.* Rep./Cons./RTL61stJohn B. Daly* Rep./Cons. Employees Secretary: Stephen F. Sloan State Assembly Assemblymen 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 Assemblymen Party Notes1stJoseph Sawicki Jr. Rep./RTL2ndJohn L. Behan* Rep./Cons./RTL3rdIcilio W. Bianchi Jr.* Democrat4thGeorge J. Hochbrueckner* Democrat5thPaul E. Harenberg* Democrat6thRobert C. Wertz* Rep./Cons./RTL7thThomas F. Barraga Rep./Cons./RTL8thJohn C. Cochrane* Rep./Cons.9thJohn J. Flanagan* Rep./Cons./RTL10thToni Rettaliata* Rep./Cons.Chairwoman of the Minority Steering Committee11thPatrick G. Halpin* Democrat12thPhilip B. Healey* Rep./Cons.13thLewis J. Yevoli* Democrat14thFrederick E. Parola* Rep./Cons.Assistant Minority Whip15thAngelo F. Orazio* Dem./Lib.16thMay W. Newburger* Dem./Lib.17thKemp Hannon* Rep./Cons.Minority Leader pro tempore18thBarbara Patton Dem./Lib.19thArmand P. D'Amato* Rep./Cons.20thArthur J. Kremer* Dem./Lib.Chairman of Ways and Means21stGregory R. Becker Rep./Cons.22ndGeorge H. Madison* Rep./Cons.23rdGerdi E. Lipschutz* Democrat24thSaul Weprin* Dem./Lib.25thJohn F. Duane Democrat 26thLeonard P. Stavisky* Dem./Lib.on April 12, 1983, elected to the State SenateJulia Harrison Dem./Lib.on May 24, 1983, elected to fill vacancyDEMOCRATS WIN 2 SPECIAL RACES FOR LEGISLATURE; ...In the 26th Assembly District...Julia Harrison, who had the Liberal Party designation as well as her own Democratic line, defeated... by Glenn Fowler, in The New York Times on May 25, 198327thNettie Mayersohn Democrat28thAlan G. Hevesi* Dem./Lib.29thCynthia Jenkins Dem./Lib.30thRalph Goldstein* Dem./Lib.31stAnthony S. Seminerio* Dem./Cons.32ndEdward Abramson* Democrat33rdAlton Waldon Dem./Lib.34thIvan C. Lafayette* Dem./Lib.35thHelen M. Marshall Democrat36thDenis J. Butler* Democrat37thClifford E. Wilson* Dem./Lib.38thFrederick D. Schmidt* Dem./RTL39thStanley Fink* Dem./Lib.re-elected Speaker40thEdward Griffith* Dem./Lib.41stHelene Weinstein* Democrat42ndRhoda S. Jacobs* Dem./Lib.43rdClarence Norman Jr. Dem./Lib.44thMel Miller* Dem./Lib.45thDaniel L. Feldman* Democrat46thHoward L. Lasher* Dem./Lib.47thFrank J. Barbaro* Dem./Lib.48thDov Hikind Democrat49thLouis Freda* Dem./Lib.50thJoseph R. Lentol* Democrat51stJoseph Ferris* Dem./Lib.52ndEileen C. Dugan* Dem./Lib.53rdVictor L. Robles* Dem./Rep./Lib.on November 6, 1984, elected to the New York City Council54thThomas F. Catapano Dem./Lib.55thWilliam F. Boyland* Dem./Lib.56thAlbert Vann* Dem./Lib.57thRoger L. Green* Dem./Lib.58thElizabeth Connelly* Democrat59thEric N. Vitaliano Dem./RTL60thRobert A. Straniere* Rep./Cons./RTL61stWilliam F. Passannante* Dem./Lib.62ndSheldon Silver* Dem./Lib.63rdSteven 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* Dem./Lib.69thEdward C. Sullivan* Dem./Lib.70thGeraldine L. Daniels* Dem./Lib.71stHerman D. Farrell Jr.* Dem./Lib.72ndJohn Brian Murtaugh* Dem./Lib.73rdJosé E. Serrano* Dem./Lib. 74thLouis Niñé* Democratdied on March 14, 1983Hector L. Diaz Dem./Rep.on May 24, 1983, elected to fill vacancyDEMOCRATS WIN 2 SPECIAL RACES FOR LEGISLATURE; ...In the 74th Assembly District...Hector Diaz, with Republican as well as Democratic endorsement, won... by Glenn Fowler, in The New York Times on May 25, 198375thJohn C. Dearie* Dem./Lib.76thAurelia Greene* Democrat77thJose Rivera Democrat78thGloria Davis* Dem./Lib.79thGeorge Friedman* Dem./Lib.80thG. Oliver Koppell* Dem./Lib.81stEliot Engel* Dem./Lib.82ndVincent A. Marchiselli* Dem./Lib.83rdNicholas A. Spano* Rep./Cons.84thGordon W. Burrows* Rep./Cons.85thJohn M. Perone* Rep./Cons.86thRichard L. Brodsky Dem./Lib.87thPeter M. Sullivan* Rep./Cons. 88thJohn R. Branca Dem./Lib.on July 12, 1983, appointed as Chairman of the NYS Athletic CommissionJOHN BRANCA HEADS SPORTS COMMISSION in The New York Times on July 13, 1983Gregory P. Young Democraton November 8, 1983, elected to fill vacancy89thHenry William Barnett Republican90thVincent Leibell Republican91stWilliam J. Ryan Democrat92ndRobert J. Connor Dem./Lib.93rdEugene Levy* Republican94thMary M. McPhillips Democrat95thWilliam J. Larkin Jr.* Rep./Cons./RTL96thLawrence 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.102ndClarence D. Lane* Rep./Cons.103rdMichael J. Hoblock Jr.* Rep./Cons.104thRichard J. Conners* Dem./Lib. 105th(Gail S. Shaffer)* Dem./Lib.on January 1, 1983, appointed as Secretary of State of New YorkPaul D. Tonko Democraton April 12, 1983, elected to fill vacancySTAVISKY WINS RACE FOR STATE SENATE; ...Paul Tonko, of Amsterdam, a Democrat, was the winner... in The New York Times on April 13, 1983106thMichael R. McNulty Dem./Lib.107thJames Tedisco Rep./Cons./RTL108thRobert A. D'Andrea* Rep./Cons.109thGlenn H. Harris* Rep./Cons.110thAndrew W. Ryan Jr.* Rep./Cons.111thJohn W. McCann Republican112thJohn G. A. O'Neil* Republican113thAnthony J. Casale* Rep./Cons.114thH. Robert Nortz* Rep./Cons.115thWilliam R. Sears* Rep./Cons./RTL116thRichard S. Ruggiero* Democrat117thRay T. Chesbro* Rep./Cons.118thMichael J. Bragman* Dem./Cons.119thWilliam E. Bush* Rep./Cons.120thMelvin N. Zimmer* Dem./Cons./RTL121stHyman M. Miller* Rep./Cons.122ndClarence D. Rappleyea Jr.* Rep./Cons.Minority LeaderG.O.P. MINORITY ELEVATES 4 by Frank Lynn, in The New York Times on February 6, 1983123rdJames W. McCabe* Democrat124thJames R. Tallon Jr.* Democrat125thHugh S. MacNeil* Republican126thGeorge H. Winner Jr.* Rep./Cons.127thRandy Kuhl* Rep./Cons.128thMichael F. Nozzolio Rep./Cons.129thFrank G. Talomie Sr.* Rep./Cons.130thLouise M. Slaughter Democrat131stGary Proud* Dem./RTL132ndPinny Cooke* Republican133rdDavid F. Gantt Dem./Lib.134thRoger J. Robach* Dem./Cons./RTL135thJames F. Nagle* Rep./Cons.136thRichard C. Wesley Republican137thR. Stephen Hawley* Republican138thJoseph T. Pillittere* Dem./RTL139thMatthew J. Murphy Jr.* Dem./Cons./RTL140thRobin L. Schimminger* Democrat141stArthur O. Eve* Dem./Lib.142ndJohn B. Sheffer II* Republican143rdDennis T. Gorski* Dem./Cons.144thWilliam B. Hoyt* Dem./Lib.145thRichard J. Keane* Dem./Cons.146thFrancis J. Pordum Dem./RTL147thL. William Paxon Rep./Cons./RTL148thVincent J. Graber Sr.* Dem./Cons.149thDaniel B. Walsh* DemocratMajority Leader150thWilliam L. Parment Dem./Lib. Employees Clerk: Catherine A. Carey Notes Sources VOTING IN NEW YORK STATE FOR 61 SEATS IN THE SENATE in The New York Times on November 4, 1982 VOTE TOTALS FOR RACES IN THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY in The New York Times on November 4, 1982 185 Category:1983 in New York (state) Category:1984 in New York (state) Category:1983 U.S. legislative sessions Category:1984 U.S. legislative sessions