Democrat & Chronicle: Local News
New Assembly majority leader needed

(July 14, 2006) — ALBANY — With the No. 2 person in the state Assembly announcing he’s leaving at the end of the year, three upstate Democrats are immediate contenders for the post, party officials say.

Joseph Morelle, D-Irondequoit; RoAnn Destito, D-Rome, Oneida County; and Ron Canestrari, D-Cohoes, Albany County; are among the hopefuls to become majority leader when Paul Tokasz of suburban Buffalo retires.

There’s also a downstate dark horse, Long Island’s Tom DiNapoli.

Canestrari is considered the favorite, but Morelle, who also is chairman of the Monroe County Democratic Party, and the others are in the running, Democrats said.

The majority leader controls floor debates in the Assembly, helps direct which bills make it to the floor for a vote and which don’t, and counts heads to make sure the majority has enough members in their seats to pass bills. The leader must also act as a sounding board for members when they can’t reach the Assembly speaker and help push the speaker’s agenda.

“`It’s a difficult job and a tedious job,” said Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, D-Buffalo. “It’s not glamorous.”

The payback is money and clout. The post carries an annual $35,827 stipend on top of a legislator’s base salary of $79,500. Also, Tokasz was seen as being able to deliver state money to the Buffalo area for a variety of projects.

Conventional Capitol wisdom says Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, would pick an upstate legislator for geographic balance.

“All the names … mentioned are considered to be very close allies to (Silver),” Hoyt said.

No decision is likely until after this fall’s elections.

Morelle was on vacation and unavailable for comment, an aide said. He is a 16-year Assembly veteran and heads the Tourism, Arts and Sports Development Committee.

The names are starting to fly around now, of course any Democrat would want this position. At least Silver is talking about an upstate rep.