185th New York State Legislature


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. 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.
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.
On July 3, 1982, the revised re-apportionment was approved by the U.S. Department of Justice.
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 New York state election, 1982, 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, of Lawrence; Mary B. Goodhue, a lawyer of Mount Kisco; Olga A. Méndez, of East Harlem, and Linda Winikow, of Spring Valley; and Assemblywomen Elizabeth Connelly, of Staten Island; Pinny Cooke, of Rochester; Geraldine L. Daniels, of the Bronx; Gloria Davis, of the Bronx; Eileen C. Dugan, of Brooklyn; Aurelia Greene, of the Bronx; Rhoda S. Jacobs, of Brooklyn; Gerdi E. Lipschutz, of Queens; May W. Newburger, of Great Neck; Toni Rettaliata, of Huntington; Gail S. Shaffer, of North Blenheim; and Helene Weinstein, a lawyer of Brooklyn—were re-elected. Anna V. Jefferson, an accountant of Brooklyn, was also elected to the State Senate. Cynthia Jenkins, a librarian of Queens; Helen M. Marshall, a teacher and librarian of Queens; Nettie Mayersohn, of Queens; Mary M. McPhillips, of Middletown; Barbara Patton, a lawyer of Hempstead; and Louise M. Slaughter, 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, 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.
The New York state election, 1983, was held on November 8. One vacancy in the Assembly was filled.

Sessions

The Legislature met for the first regular session at the State Capitol in Albany on January 5, 1983; and recessed indefinitely on June 28.
Stanley Fink was re-elected Speaker of the Assembly.
Warren M. Anderson 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.
The Legislature met for the second regular session at the State Capitol in Albany on January 4, 1984; and recessed indefinitely shortly before 2 a.m. on July 1.
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.
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.

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..."
DistrictSenatorPartyNotes
1stKenneth LaValle*Rep./Cons.
2ndJames J. Lack*Rep./Cons.
3rdCaesar Trunzo*Rep./Cons./RTL
4thOwen H. Johnson*Rep./Cons./RTL
5thRalph J. Marino*Rep./Cons.
6thJohn R. Dunne*Rep./Cons.
7thMichael J. Tully Jr.*Rep./Cons.
8thNorman J. Levy*Rep./Cons.Chairman of Transportation
9thCarol 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. Congress
12thLeonard P. Stavisky*Democraton April 12, 1983, elected to fill vacancy
13thEmanuel R. Gold*Dem./Lib.
14thAnthony V. Gazzara*Dem./Cons./RTLon May 23, 1983, appointed as Chairman of the NYS Liquor Authority
14thGeorge OnoratoDemocraton June 28, 1983, elected to fill vacancy
15thMartin J. Knorr*Rep./Cons./RTL
16thJeremy S. Weinstein*Dem./Lib.
17thHoward E. Babbush*Dem./Lib.
18thDonald Halperin*Democrat
19thMartin M. Solomon*Democrat
20thThomas J. Bartosiewicz*Democrat
21stMarty Markowitz*Democrat
22ndAnna V. JeffersonDemocrat
23rdJoseph G. MontaltoDem./Lib.
24thJohn J. Marchi*Rep./Dem./Cons.Chairman of Finance
25thMartin Connor*Dem./Lib.
26thRoy M. Goodman*Rep./Lib.
27thManfred Ohrenstein*Dem./Lib.Minority Leader
28thFranz 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./RTL
35thJohn E. Flynn*Rep./Cons./RTL
36thJoseph R. Pisani*Rep./Cons.resigned on June 27, 1984
37thMary B. Goodhue*Rep./Cons.
38thLinda Winikow*Dem./Lib.
39thRichard E. Schermerhorn*Rep./Cons./RTL
40thCharles 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./RTL
45thRonald B. Stafford*Rep./Cons.
46thHugh Douglas Barclay*Rep./Cons.
47thJames H. Donovan*Rep./Cons.Chairman of Education
48thMartin S. Auer*Rep./Cons.
49thTarky Lombardi, Jr.*Rep./Cons.
50thLloyd Stephen Riford, Jr.*Rep./Cons.
51stWarren M. Anderson*Rep./Cons.re-elected Temporary President
52ndWilliam T. Smith*Rep./Cons.
53rdL. Paul Kehoe*Rep./Cons.
54thJohn D. Perry*Democrat
55thWilliam M. Steinfeldt*Republican
56thJess J. Present*Republican
57thWilliam Stachowski*Democrat
58thAnthony M. Masiello*Dem./Lib.
59thDale M. Volker*Rep./Cons./RTL
60thWalter J. Floss Jr.*Rep./Cons./RTL
61stJohn B. Daly*Rep./Cons.

Employees

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..."
DistrictAssemblymenPartyNotes
1stJoseph Sawicki Jr.Rep./RTL
2ndJohn L. Behan*Rep./Cons./RTL
3rdIcilio W. Bianchi, Jr.*Democrat
4thGeorge J. Hochbrueckner*Democrat
5thPaul E. Harenberg*Democrat
6thRobert C. Wertz*Rep./Cons./RTL
7thThomas F. BarragaRep./Cons./RTL
8thJohn C. Cochrane*Rep./Cons.
9thJohn J. Flanagan*Rep./Cons./RTL
10thToni Rettaliata*Rep./Cons.Chairwoman of the Minority Steering Committee
11thPatrick G. Halpin*Democrat
12thPhilip B. Healey*Rep./Cons.
13thLewis J. Yevoli*Democrat
14thFrederick E. Parola*Rep./Cons.Assistant Minority Whip
15thAngelo F. Orazio*Dem./Lib.
16thMay W. Newburger*Dem./Lib.
17thKemp Hannon*Rep./Cons.Minority Leader pro tempore
18thBarbara PattonDem./Lib.
19thArmand P. D'Amato*Rep./Cons.
20thArthur J. Kremer*Dem./Lib.Chairman of Ways and Means
21stGregory R. BeckerRep./Cons.
22ndGeorge H. Madison*Rep./Cons.
23rdGerdi E. Lipschutz*Democrat
24thSaul Weprin*Dem./Lib.
25thJohn F. DuaneDemocrat
26thLeonard P. Stavisky*Dem./Lib.on April 12, 1983, elected to the State Senate
26thJulia HarrisonDem./Lib.on May 24, 1983, elected to fill vacancy
27thNettie MayersohnDemocrat
28thAlan G. Hevesi*Dem./Lib.
29thCynthia JenkinsDem./Lib.
30thRalph Goldstein*Dem./Lib.
31stAnthony S. Seminerio*Dem./Cons.
32ndEdward Abramson*Democrat
33rdAlton WaldonDem./Lib.
34thIvan C. Lafayette*Dem./Lib.
35thHelen M. MarshallDemocrat
36thDenis J. Butler*Democrat
37thClifford E. Wilson*Dem./Lib.
38thFrederick D. Schmidt*Dem./RTL
39thStanley Fink*Dem./Lib.re-elected Speaker
40thEdward Griffith*Dem./Lib.
41stHelene Weinstein*Democrat
42ndRhoda S. Jacobs*Dem./Lib.
43rdClarence Norman Jr.Dem./Lib.
44thMel Miller*Dem./Lib.
45thDaniel L. Feldman*Democrat
46thHoward L. Lasher*Dem./Lib.
47thFrank J. Barbaro*Dem./Lib.
48thDov HikindDemocrat
49thLouis Freda*Dem./Lib.
50thJoseph R. Lentol*Democrat
51stJoseph Ferris*Dem./Lib.
52ndEileen C. Dugan*Dem./Lib.
53rdVictor L. Robles*Dem./Rep./Lib.on November 6, 1984, elected to the New York City Council
54thThomas F. CatapanoDem./Lib.
55thWilliam F. Boyland*Dem./Lib.
56thAlbert Vann*Dem./Lib.
57thRoger L. Green*Dem./Lib.
58thElizabeth Connelly*Democrat
59thEric N. VitalianoDem./RTL
60thRobert A. Straniere*Rep./Cons./RTL
61stWilliam 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, 1983
74thHector L. DiazDem./Rep.on May 24, 1983, elected to fill vacancy
75thJohn C. Dearie*Dem./Lib.
76thAurelia Greene*Democrat
77thJose RiveraDemocrat
78thGloria 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. BrodskyDem./Lib.
87thPeter M. Sullivan*Rep./Cons.
88thJohn R. BrancaDem./Lib.on July 12, 1983, appointed as Chairman of the NYS Athletic Commission
88thGregory P. YoungDemocraton November 8, 1983, elected to fill vacancy
89thHenry William BarnettRepublican
90thVincent LeibellRepublican
91stWilliam J. RyanDemocrat
92ndRobert J. ConnorDem./Lib.
93rdEugene Levy*Republican
94thMary M. McPhillipsDemocrat
95thWilliam J. Larkin, Jr.*Rep./Cons./RTL
96thLawrence E. BennettDemocrat
97thStephen M. Saland*Rep./Cons.
98thRichard I. CoombeRep./Cons.
99thGlenn E. Warren*Rep./Cons.
100thNeil W. Kelleher*Rep./Cons./RTL
101stMaurice D. Hinchey*Dem./Lib.
102ndClarence D. Lane*Rep./Cons.
103rdMichael J. Hoblock, Jr.*Rep./Cons.
104thRichard J. Conners*Dem./Lib.
105th*Dem./Lib.on January 1, 1983, appointed as Secretary of State of New York
105thPaul D. TonkoDemocraton April 12, 1983, elected to fill vacancy
106thMichael R. McNultyDem./Lib.
107thJames TediscoRep./Cons./RTL
108thRobert A. D'Andrea*Rep./Cons.
109thGlenn H. Harris*Rep./Cons.
110thAndrew W. Ryan, Jr.*Rep./Cons.
111thJohn W. McCannRepublican
112thJohn G. A. O'Neil*Republican
113thAnthony J. Casale*Rep./Cons.
114thH. Robert Nortz*Rep./Cons.
115thWilliam R. Sears*Rep./Cons./RTL
116thRichard S. Ruggiero*Democrat
117thRay T. Chesbro*Rep./Cons.
118thMichael J. Bragman*Dem./Cons.
119thWilliam E. Bush*Rep./Cons.
120thMelvin N. Zimmer*Dem./Cons./RTL
121stHyman M. Miller*Rep./Cons.
122ndClarence D. Rappleyea, Jr.*Rep./Cons.Minority Leader
123rdJames W. McCabe*Democrat
124thJames R. Tallon, Jr.*Democrat
125thHugh S. MacNeil*Republican
126thGeorge H. Winner, Jr.*Rep./Cons.
127thRandy Kuhl*Rep./Cons.
128thMichael F. NozzolioRep./Cons.
129thFrank G. Talomie Sr.*Rep./Cons.
130thLouise M. SlaughterDemocrat
131stGary Proud*Dem./RTL
132ndPinny Cooke*Republican
133rdDavid F. GanttDem./Lib.
134thRoger J. Robach*Dem./Cons./RTL
135thJames F. Nagle*Rep./Cons.
136thRichard C. WesleyRepublican
137thR. Stephen Hawley*Republican
138thJoseph T. Pillittere*Dem./RTL
139thMatthew J. Murphy, Jr.*Dem./Cons./RTL
140thRobin L. Schimminger*Democrat
141stArthur O. Eve*Dem./Lib.
142ndJohn B. Sheffer II*Republican
143rdDennis T. Gorski*Dem./Cons.
144thWilliam B. Hoyt*Dem./Lib.
145thRichard J. Keane*Dem./Cons.
146thFrancis J. PordumDem./RTL
147thL. William PaxonRep./Cons./RTL
148thVincent J. Graber Sr.*Dem./Cons.
149thDaniel B. Walsh*DemocratMajority Leader
150thWilliam L. ParmentDem./Lib.

Employees