191st New York State Legislature

New York state legislative session February 2025 October 2019 December 2024 191st January 1, 1995 December 31, 1996 Lt. Gov. Betsy McCaughey Ross (R) Joseph Bruno (R) Sheldon Silver (D) 61 150 Republican 1995: (36–25) 1996: (37–24) Democratic 1995: (94–56) 1996: (95–55) 1st January 4 June 30, 1995 2nd January 3 July 13, 1996 3rd December 17 18, 1996 190th 192nd The 191st New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 4, 1995, to December 31, 1996, during the first and second 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 Republican Party and the Democratic Party. The Conservative Party, the Independence Party, the Liberal Party, the Right to Life Party, the Tax Cut Now Party, the Libertarian Party and the Socialist Workers Party also nominated tickets. Elections The 1994 New York state election was held on November 8. State Senator George Pataki was elected Governor, and Betsy McCaughey Ross was elected Lieutenant Governor, both Republicans with Conservative and Tax Cut Now endorsement, who defeated the incumbent Democrats Mario Cuomo and Stan Lundine. The elections to the other three statewide elective offices resulted in the re-election of State Comptroller Carl McCall and U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, both Democrats; and the election of Dennis Vacco as Attorney General, a Republican with Conservative endorsement who defeated the incumbent Democrat G. Oliver Koppell. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for Governor, was: Democrats 2,273,000; Republicans 2,156,000; Conservatives 329,000; Independence 217,000; Liberals 92,000; Right to Life 68,000; Tax Cut Now 54,000; Libertarians 9,500; and Socialist Workers 5,500. 36 of the sitting 39 women members of the legislature—State Senators Nancy Larraine Hoffmann (Dem.), of Syracuse; Mary Ellen Jones (Democrat), of Irondequoit; Olga A. Méndez (Democrat), of East Harlem; Velmanette Montgomery (Democrat), of Brooklyn; Suzi Oppenheimer (Dem.), of Mamaroneck; Mary Lou Rath (Republican), of Williamsville; Nellie R. Santiago (Democrat), of Brooklyn; and Ada L. Smith (Dem.), of Queens; and Assemblywomen Patricia Acampora (Republican), of Mattituck; Carmen E. Arroyo (Democrat), of the Bronx; Nancy Calhoun (Republican), of Blooming Grove; Joan Christensen (Democrat), of Syracuse; Barbara M. Clark (Democrat), of Queens; Elizabeth Connelly (Dem.), of Staten Island; Vivian E. Cook (Dem.) of Queens; RoAnn Destito (Democrat), of Rome; Gloria Davis (Dem.), of the Bronx; Eileen C. Dugan (Democrat), of Brooklyn; Donna Ferrara (Rep.), a lawyer of Westbury; Sandy Galef (Democrat), of Ossining; Deborah J. Glick (Dem.), of Manhattan; Aurelia Greene (Dem.), of the Bronx; Audrey Hochberg (Dem.), of Scarsdale; Elizabeth C. Hoffman (Republican), of North Tonawanda; Earlene Hill Hooper (Dem.), of Hempstead; Rhoda S. Jacobs (Democrat), of Brooklyn; Susan V. John (Dem.), of Rochester; Melinda Katz (Dem.), a lawyer of Queens; Naomi C. Matusow (Democrat), a lawyer of Armonk; Nettie Mayersohn (Democrat), of Queens; Patricia McGee (Republican), of Franklinville; Catherine Nolan (Dem.), of Queens; Chloe Ann O'Neil (Republican), an elementary school teacher of Parishville; Audrey Pheffer (Democrat), of Queens; Frances T. Sullivan (Republican), of Fulton; and Helene Weinstein (Democrat), a lawyer of Brooklyn—were re-elected. Catherine M. Abate (Democrat), of Manhattan, was also elected to the State Senate. Debra J. Mazzarelli (Republican), of Patchogue; and Sandra Lee Wirth (Republican), of West Seneca, were also elected to the Assembly. The 1995 New York state election was held on November 7. Four vacancies in the Assembly were filled. Betty Little (Republican), of Queensbury, was elected to fill one of the vacancies. Sessions The Legislature met for the first regular session (the 218th) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 4, 1995;NEW YORK'S NEW GOVERNOR: THE OVERVIEW; PATAKI PROMISES A REDUCED BUDGET AND LOWER TAXES by Kevin Sack, in The New York Times on January 5, 1995 and recessed indefinitely in the morning of June 30.Mayor Loses Political Fray In Legislature by Kevin Sack, in The New York Times on July 1, 1995 Sheldon Silver (Dem.) was re-elected Speaker of the Assembly. Joseph Bruno (Rep.) was elected Temporary President of the Senate. The Legislature met for the second regular session (the 219th) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 3, 1996;PATAKI'S MESSAGE: Pataki Says Backing Spending Cuts Will Help State Thrive by Clifford J. Levy, in The New York Times on January 4, 1996 and recessed indefinitely on July 13.For Pataki, Success Hinges on an Evolving Agenda by James Dao, in The New York Times on July 15, 1996 The Legislature met for a special session from December 17Stick to Basics in Albany in The New York Times on December 17, 1996 to 18, 1996,Albany Fails to Extend Tax for New York City Police by Richard Perez-Pena, in The New York Times on December 18, 1996 to consider legislation concerning the administration of the public school system in New York City.ALBANY IN SCHOOLS ACCORD TO GIVE CHANCELLOR POWER AND WEAKEN LOCAL BOARDS by James Dao, in The New York Times on December 18, 1996 State Senate Senators The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Vincent Leibell changed from the Assembly to the Senate at the beginning of this legislature. Assemblymen Larry Seabrook and James S. Alesi were elected to fill vacancies 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* Republican 5thRalph J. Marino* Republicanresigned on February 8, 1995Ex-Majority Chief Resigns From State Senate in The New York Times on February 9, 1995Carl L. Marcellino Republicanon March 14, 1995, elected to fill vacancyEffort to Preserve a Political Dynasty in East Harlem Fails by a Wide Margin by David Firestone, in The New York Times on March 15, 19956thKemp Hannon* Republican7thMichael J. Tully Jr.* Republican8thNorman J. Levy* RepublicanChairman of Transportation9thDean 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* Democrat19thHoward E. Babbush* Democrat20thMarty Markowitz* Democrat21stCarl Kruger* Democrat 22ndMartin M. Solomon* Democraton November 7, 1995, elected to the New York City Civil CourtSeymour P. Lachman Democraton February 15, 1996, elected to fill vacancy3 Democrats Win Contests by Jonathan P. Hicks, in The New York Times on February 16, 199623rdRobert DiCarlo* Republican24thJohn J. Marchi* Republican25thMartin Connor* DemocratMinority Leader26thRoy M. Goodman* Republican27thCatherine M. Abate Democrat28thOlga A. Méndez* Democrat29thDavid Paterson* Democrat30thFranz S. Leichter* Democrat31stEfrain Gonzalez Jr.* Democrat32ndPedro Espada Jr. Democrat 33rdJoseph L. Galiber* Democratdied on November 21, 1995Larry Seabrook* Democraton February 15, 1996, elected to fill vacancy34thGuy J. Velella* Republican35thNicholas A. Spano* Republican36thSuzi Oppenheimer* Democrat37thVincent Leibell* Republican38thJoseph R. Holland* Republican39thWilliam J. Larkin Jr.* Republican40thCharles D. Cook* Republican41stStephen M. Saland* Republican42ndMichael J. Hoblock Jr. Republican43rdJoseph Bruno* Republicanelected Temporary President44thHugh T. Farley* RepublicanChairman of Banks45thRonald B. Stafford* RepublicanChairman of Finance46thJames W. Wright* Republican47thWilliam R. Sears* Republican48thNancy Larraine Hoffmann* Democrat49thJohn A. DeFrancisco* Republican50thJames L. Seward* Republican51stThomas W. Libous* Republican52ndRandy Kuhl* Republican53rdMichael F. Nozzolio* Republican54thRichard A. Dollinger* Democrat 55thMary Ellen Jones* Democratappointed to the New York State Parole BoardJames S. Alesi* Republicanon February 15, 1996, elected to fill vacancyDemocrats Win Race Seen as a State Forecast by Raymond Hernandez, in The New York Times on February 16, 199656thJess J. Present* Republican57thAnthony Nanula* Democrat58thWilliam Stachowski* Democrat59thDale M. Volker* Republican60thMary Lou Rath* Republican 61stJohn B. Daly* Republicanon January 9, 1995, appointed as NYS Commissioner of TransportationConservative Party Leader Picked to Run Port Authority; ...Pataki also announced the appointment of...Senator John B. Daly...as Transportation Commissioner... by Kevin Sack, in The New York Times on January 10, 1995George D. Maziarz Republicanon March 14, 1995, elected to fill vacancy 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 Notes1stPatricia Acampora* Republican 2ndJohn L. Behan* Republicanappointed as NYS Commissioner of Veterans' AffairsFred W. Thiele Jr. Republicanon March 14, 1995, elected to fill vacancy3rdDebra J. Mazzarelli Republican4thSteve Englebright* Democrat5thPaul E. Harenberg* Democrat6thRobert C. Wertz* Republican7thThomas F. Barraga* Republican8thPhil Boyle* Republican9thJohn J. Flanagan* Republican10thJames D. Conte* Republican11thRobert K. Sweeney* Democrat12thPhilip B. Healey* Republicandied on May 27, 199613thDavid Sidikman* Democrat14thMarc Herbst* Republican15thDonna Ferrara* Republican16thThomas DiNapoli* Democrat17thMichael Balboni* Republican18thEarlene Hill Hooper* Democrat19thCharles J. O'Shea* Republican20thHarvey Weisenberg* Democrat21stGregory R. Becker* Republican 22ndVincent T. Muscarella* Republicanon November 5, 1995, elected to the Nassau County LegislatureThomas Alfano Republicanon February 15, 1996, elected to fill vacancy23rdAudrey Pheffer* Democrat24thMark Weprin* Democrat25thBrian M. McLaughlin* Democrat26thDouglas Prescott* Republican27thNettie Mayersohn* Democrat28thMelinda Katz* Democrat29thWilliam Scarborough Democrat30thJoseph Crowley* Democrat31stGregory W. Meeks* Democrat32ndVivian E. Cook* Democrat33rdBarbara M. Clark* Democrat34thIvan C. Lafayette* Democrat35thJeffrion L. Aubry* Democrat36thDenis J. Butler* Democrat37thCatherine Nolan* Democrat38thAnthony S. Seminerio* Democrat39thAnthony J. Genovesi* Democrat40thEdward Griffith* Democrat41stHelene Weinstein* Democrat42ndRhoda S. Jacobs* Democrat43rdClarence Norman Jr.* Democrat44thJames F. Brennan* Democrat45thDaniel L. Feldman* Democrat46thJules Polonetsky* Democrat47thFrank J. Barbaro* Democrat48thDov Hikind* Democrat49thPeter J. Abbate Jr.* Democrat50thJoseph R. Lentol* Democrat51stFélix W. Ortiz Democrat52ndEileen C. Dugan* Democratdied on November 8, 199653rdVito 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* Democrat 68thvacantAssemblyman-elect Angelo Del Toro died on December 30, 1994Francisco Diaz Jr. Liberalon March 14, 1995, elected to fill vacancy69thEdward C. Sullivan* Democrat70thKeith L. T. Wright* Democrat71stHerman D. Farrell Jr.* DemocratChairman of Ways and Means72ndJohn Brian Murtaugh* Democrat73rdJohn Ravitz* Republican74thCarmen E. Arroyo* Democrat 75thHector L. Diaz* Democratresigned in December 1995 to become County Clerk of Bronx CountyPedro Gautier Espada Democraton February 15, 1996, elected to fill vacancy76thPeter M. Rivera* Democrat77thAurelia Greene* Democrat78thRoberto Ramirez* Democrat79thGloria Davis* Democrat80thJeffrey D. Klein Democrat81stJeffrey Dinowitz* Democrat82ndStephen B. Kaufman* Democrat 83rdLarry Seabrook* Democraton February 15, 1996, elected to the State SenateSamuel Bea Jr. Democraton April 25, 1996, elected to fill vacancyElected Public Officials of the Bronx since 1898 https://web.archive.org/web/20140311043122/http://www.bronxhistoricalsociety.org/Elected%20Officials%20Website%20Version.pdf 2014-03-11 (page 27)84thJ. 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* Republican103rdJames Tedisco* Republican104thJohn McEneny* Democrat105thPaul D. Tonko* Democrat106thRonald Canestrari* Democrat107thRobert G. Prentiss Republican108thPat M. Casale* Republican 109thJames P. King* Republicanappointed to the New York Court of ClaimsJames Preston King in the Albany Times–Union on June 14–15, 2010Betty Little Republicanon November 7, 1995, elected to fill vacancy110thChris Ortloff* Republican111thBill Magee* Democrat112thChloe Ann O'Neil* Republican 113thAnthony J. Casale* Republicanappointed as Chairman of the New York State Liquor AuthorityButler gets Conservatives' backing in The Daily Gazette, of Schenectady, on September 25, 1995Marc W. Butler Republicanon November 7, 1995, elected to fill vacancy114thH. Robert Nortz* Republican115thDavid R. Townsend Jr.* Republican116thRoAnn Destito* Democrat117thFrances T. Sullivan* Republican118thMichael J. Bragman* DemocratMajority Leader119thJoan Christensen* Democrat120thBernard J. Mahoney Republican121stHarold C. Brown Jr.* Republican 122ndClarence D. Rappleyea Jr.* RepublicanMinority Leader; on June 29, 1995, appointed to the New York Power AuthorityReynolds Heads Assembly Minority The Buffalo News June 30, 1995 http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-22738076.html https://web.archive.org/web/20150924190820/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-22738076.html September 24, 2015 HighBeam Research subscription Buffalo, NY usurpedClifford W. Crouch Republicanon November 7, 1995, elected to fill vacancy123rdJay J. Dinga Republican124thRobert J. Warner* Republican125thMartin A. Luster* Democrat126thDaniel J. Fessenden* Republican127thGeorge H. Winner Jr.* Republican128thBob Oaks* Republican129thCraig J. Doran* Republican 130thDonald R. Davidsen* Republicanin October 1995 appointed as NYS Commissioner of AgricultureNYS Dept. of Agriculture and Markets; Former CommissionersJames Bacalles Republicanon November 7, 1995, elected to fill vacancy131stSusan V. John* Democrat132ndJoseph D. Morelle* Democrat133rdDavid F. Gantt* Democrat134thJoseph Robach* Democrat 135thJames S. Alesi* Republicanresigned to run for the State SenateDavid Koon Democraton February 15, 1996, elected to fill vacancy136thJerry Johnson* Republican137thCharles H. Nesbitt* Republican138thJoseph T. Pillittere* Democrat 139thElizabeth C. Hoffman* Republicanresigned in February 1995 to run for the State SenateIn East Harlem, 2 Candidates Try to End a Dynasty as a 3d Tries to Uphold It; ...Elizabeth C. Hoffman, who resigned her seat in the Assembly to run..., by Jonathan P. Hicks, in The New York Times on March 13, 1995David E. Seaman Republicanon March 14, 1995, elected to fill vacancy140thRobin L. Schimminger* Democrat141stArthur O. Eve* Democrat142ndRichard R. Anderson* Republican143rdPaul Tokasz* Democrat144thSam Hoyt* Democrat145thRichard J. Keane* Democrat146thFrancis J. Pordum* Democrat147thThomas M. Reynolds* RepublicanMinority Leader from June 30, 1995148thSandra Lee Wirth Republican149thPatricia McGee* Republican150thWilliam L. Parment* Democrat Employees Clerk: Francine Misasi Notes Sources Senate and Assembly members (Vote on the Budget Bill, on March 9, 1995) 191 Category:1995 establishments in New York (state) Category:1996 disestablishments in New York (state) Category:1995 in New York (state) Category:1996 in New York (state) Category:1995 U.S. legislative sessions Category:1996 U.S. legislative sessions