186th New York State Legislature

The 186th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 9, 1985, to December 31, 1986, during the third and fourth years of Mario Cuomo's governorship, in Albany.

186th New York State Legislature
← 185th 187th →
New York State Capitol (2009)
Overview
Legislative body	New York State Legislature
Jurisdiction	New York, United States
Term	January 1, 1985 – December 31, 1986
Senate
Members	61
President	Lt. Gov. Alfred DelBello (D), until February 1, 1985
Temporary President	Warren M. Anderson (R)
Party control	Republican (35–26)
Assembly
Members	150
Speaker	Stanley Fink (D)
Party control	Democratic (94–56)
Sessions
1st January 9 – June 30, 1985 2nd December 10, 1985 – 3rd January 8 – July 3, 1986 4th December 11 – 30, 1986

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 Liberal Party, the Right to Life Party, the Libertarian Party, the Communist Party, the New Alliance Party and the Workers World Party also nominated tickets.

Elections

The New York state election, 1984, was held on November 6. No statewide elective offices were up for election. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for U.S. president, was: Republicans 3,377,000; Democrats 3,120,000; Conservatives 288,000; Liberals 118,000; Libertarians 12,000; Communists 4,000; New Alliance 3,000; and Workers World 2,000.

Twenty of the 23 women members of the previous legislature—State Senators Mary B. Goodhue (Rep.), a lawyer of Mount Kisco; and Olga A. Méndez (Dem.), of East Harlem; 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; Julia Harrison (Dem.), of Queens; 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; May W. Newburger (Dem.), of Great Neck; Barbara Patton (Dem.), a lawyer of Hempstead; Toni Rettaliata (Rep.), of Huntington; Louise M. Slaughter (Dem.), of Fairport; and Helene Weinstein (Dem.), a lawyer of Brooklyn—were re-elected. Nancy Larraine Hoffmann (Dem.), of Syracuse; Velmanette Montgomery (Dem.), of Brooklyn; and Suzi Oppenheimer (Dem.), of Mamaroneck; were also elected to the State Senate. Catherine Nolan (Dem.), of Queens, was also elected to the Assembly. Thus the 186th Legislature began having 24 women members, surpassing the previous record of 23 in the 185th New York State Legislature (1983–1984).

The New York state election, 1985, was held on November 5. One vacancy in the State Senate was filled.

Sessions

The Legislature met for the first regular session (the 208th) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 9, 1985;^[1] and recessed indefinitely on June 30.^[2]

Stanley Fink (Dem.) was re-elected Speaker of the Assembly.

Warren M. Anderson (Rep.) was re-elected Temporary President of the Senate. On February 1, 1985, Lt. Gov. DelBello resigned, and Anderson acted as lieutenant governor until the end of 1986.

The Legislature met for a special session on December 10, 1985.^[3] This session was called by Governor Cuomo to consider legislation concerning malpractice insurance rates; the sale of all State holdings in companies which do business in South Africa; the time limit for suits in cases of harm by toxic substances; hostile corporate takeovers; low-income housing in New York City; and municipal liability insurance rates.^[4]

The Legislature met for the second regular session (the 209th) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 8, 1986;^[5] and recessed indefinitely on July 3.^[6]

The Legislature met for another special session from December 11^[7] to 30, 1986.^[8] This session was called by Governor Cuomo to consider legislation concerning the creation of 23 judgeships in New York City; the financing of the mass transit system in New York City; a revision of the State's tax system; and subsidies for elderly people to buy prescription drugs.^[9]

State Senate

Senators

The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Eugene Levy changed from the Assembly to the Senate.

Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on (the)..."

District	Senator	Party	Notes
1st	Kenneth LaValle*	Rep./Cons.
2nd	James J. Lack*	Rep./Cons.
3rd	Caesar Trunzo*	Rep./Cons./RTL
4th	Owen H. Johnson*	Rep./Cons./RTL
5th	Ralph J. Marino*	Rep./Cons.	Chairman of Banks; Chairman of the Majority Program Committee
6th	John R. Dunne*	Rep./Cons.	Chairman of Judiciary
7th	Michael J. Tully Jr.*	Rep./Cons.
8th	Norman J. Levy*	Rep./Cons.	Chairman of Transportation
9th	Dean Skelos	Rep./Cons.
10th	Andrew Jenkins*	Dem./Lib.
11th	Frank Padavan*	Rep./Cons./RTL
12th	Leonard P. Stavisky*	Dem./Lib.
13th	Emanuel R. Gold*	Dem./Lib.
14th	George Onorato*	Democrat
15th	Martin J. Knorr*	Rep./Cons./RTL	Assistant Majority Whip
16th	Jeremy S. Weinstein*	Dem./Lib.
17th	Howard E. Babbush*	Dem./Lib.
18th	Donald Halperin*	Democrat
19th	Martin M. Solomon*	Democrat
20th	Thomas J. Bartosiewicz*	Democrat
21st	Marty Markowitz*	Democrat
22nd	Velmanette Montgomery	Democrat
23rd	Christopher J. Mega	Rep./Cons./RTL
24th	John J. Marchi*	Rep./Dem./Cons.	Chairman of Finance
25th	Martin Connor*	Dem./Lib.
26th	Roy M. Goodman*	Rep./Lib.
27th	Manfred Ohrenstein*	Dem./Lib.	Minority Leader
28th	Franz S. Leichter*	Dem./Lib.
29th	Leon Bogues*	Dem./Lib.	died on August 6, 1985
	David Paterson	Democrat	on November 5, 1985, elected to fill vacancy
30th	Olga A. Méndez*	Democrat
31st	Joseph L. Galiber*	Dem./Lib.
32nd	Israel Ruiz, Jr.*	Dem./Lib.
33rd	Abraham Bernstein*	Dem./Rep./Lib.
34th	John D. Calandra*	Rep./Cons.	Majority Whip; died on January 20, 1986
	Guy J. Velella	Republican	on April 22, 1986, elected to fill vacancy^[10]
35th	John E. Flynn*	Rep./Cons.
36th	Suzi Oppenheimer	Dem./Lib.
37th	Mary B. Goodhue*	Rep./Cons.
38th	Eugene Levy*	Rep./Cons.
39th	Richard E. Schermerhorn*	Republican
40th	Charles D. Cook*	Rep./Cons.
41st	Jay P. Rolison Jr.*	Rep./Cons.	Assistant Majority Leader
42nd	Howard C. Nolan Jr.*	Dem./Lib.
43rd	Joseph Bruno*	Rep./Cons.
44th	Hugh T. Farley*	Rep./Cons./RTL	Chairman of Environmental Conservation
45th	Ronald B. Stafford*	Rep./Cons.
46th	John M. McHugh	Rep./Cons.
47th	James H. Donovan*	Rep./Cons.	Chairman of Education
48th	Nancy Larraine Hoffmann	Democrat
49th	Tarky Lombardi Jr.*	Rep./Cons.
50th	Lloyd Stephen Riford Jr.*	Republican	Chairman of Agriculture
51st	Warren M. Anderson*	Rep./Cons.	re-elected Temporary President
52nd	William T. Smith*	Rep./Cons.	Deputy Majority Leader
53rd	L. Paul Kehoe*	Rep./Cons.
54th	John D. Perry*	Democrat
55th	Ralph E. Quattrociocchi	Dem./Cons.
56th	Jess J. Present*	Republican
57th	William Stachowski*	Dem./Cons.
58th	Anthony M. Masiello*	Dem./Lib.
59th	Dale M. Volker*	Rep./Cons.
60th	Walter J. Floss Jr.*	Rep./Cons.
61st	John B. Daly*	Rep./Cons.

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	Notes
1st	Joseph Sawicki Jr.*	Rep./Cons.
2nd	John L. Behan*	Rep./Cons.
3rd	Icilio W. Bianchi, Jr.*	Democrat
4th	Robert J. Gaffney	Rep./Cons./RTL
5th	Paul E. Harenberg*	Democrat
6th	Robert C. Wertz*	Rep./Cons./RTL
7th	Thomas F. Barraga*	Rep./Cons./RTL
8th	John C. Cochrane*	Rep./Cons.
9th	John J. Flanagan*	Rep./Cons./RTL
10th	Toni Rettaliata*	Rep./Cons.
11th	Patrick G. Halpin*	Democrat
12th	Philip B. Healey*	Rep./Cons.
13th	Lewis J. Yevoli*	Democrat
14th	Frederick E. Parola*	Rep./Cons.
15th	Daniel Frisa	Rep./Cons.
16th	May W. Newburger*	Dem./Lib.
17th	Kemp Hannon*	Rep./Cons.
18th	Barbara Patton*	Dem./Lib.
19th	Armand P. D'Amato*	Rep./Cons.
20th	Arthur J. Kremer*	Dem./Lib.	Chairman of Ways and Means
21st	Gregory R. Becker*	Rep./Cons.
22nd	George H. Madison*	Rep./Cons.
23rd	Gerdi E. Lipschutz*	Dem./Lib.
24th	Saul Weprin*	Dem./Lib.	Chairman of Judiciary
25th	Douglas Prescott	Rep./Cons./RTL
26th	Julia Harrison*	Dem./Lib.	on November 5, 1985, elected to the New York City Council
	David M. Kramer	Democrat	on February 18, 1986, elected to fill vacancy^[11]
27th	Nettie Mayersohn*	Dem./Lib.
28th	Alan G. Hevesi*	Dem./Lib.
29th	Cynthia Jenkins*	Dem./Lib.
30th	Ralph Goldstein*	Dem./Lib.
31st	Anthony S. Seminerio*	Dem./Cons.
32nd	Edward Abramson*	Democrat
33rd	Alton R. Waldon Jr.*	Dem./Lib.	on June 10, 1986, elected to the 99th U.S. Congress^[12]^[13]
34th	Ivan C. Lafayette*	Dem./Lib.
35th	Helen M. Marshall*	Dem./Lib.
36th	Denis J. Butler*	Democrat
37th	Catherine Nolan	Democrat
38th	Frederick D. Schmidt*	Dem./RTL
39th	Stanley Fink*	Dem./Lib.	re-elected Speaker
40th	Edward Griffith*	Dem./Lib.
41st	Helene Weinstein*	Democrat
42nd	Rhoda S. Jacobs*	Dem./Lib.
43rd	Clarence Norman Jr.*	Democrat
44th	Mel Miller*	Dem./Lib.	Chairman of Codes
45th	Daniel L. Feldman*	Democrat
46th	Howard L. Lasher*	Dem./Lib.
47th	Frank J. Barbaro*	Democrat
48th	Dov Hikind*	Democrat
49th	Arnaldo Ferraro	Rep./Cons./RTL
50th	Joseph R. Lentol*	Democrat
51st	James F. Brennan	Democrat
52nd	Eileen C. Dugan*	Dem./Lib.
53rd	Vito J. Lopez	Democrat
54th	Thomas F. Catapano*	Dem./Lib.
55th	William F. Boyland*	Dem./Lib.
56th	Albert Vann*	Democrat
57th	Roger L. Green*	Democrat
58th	Elizabeth Connelly*	Democrat
59th	Eric N. Vitaliano*	Dem./Cons.
60th	Robert A. Straniere*	Rep./Cons./RTL
61st	William F. Passannante*	Dem./Lib.
62nd	Sheldon Silver*	Dem./Lib.
63rd	Steven Sanders*	Dem./Lib.
64th	Richard N. Gottfried*	Dem./Lib.
65th	Alexander B. Grannis*	Dem./Lib.
66th	Mark Alan Siegel*	Dem./Lib.
67th	Jerrold Nadler*	Dem./Lib.
68th	Angelo Del Toro*	Dem./Lib.
69th	Edward C. Sullivan*	Dem./Lib.
70th	Geraldine L. Daniels*	Dem./Lib.
71st	Herman D. Farrell, Jr.*	Democrat
72nd	John Brian Murtaugh*	Dem./Lib.
73rd	José E. Serrano*	Dem./Lib.
74th	Hector L. Diaz*	Democrat
75th	John C. Dearie*	Dem./Lib.
76th	Aurelia Greene*	Democrat
77th	Jose Rivera*	Dem./Lib.
78th	Gloria Davis*	Dem./Lib.
79th	George Friedman*	Dem./Lib.
80th	G. Oliver Koppell*	Dem./Lib.
81st	Eliot Engel*	Dem./Lib.
82nd	Larry Seabrook	Democrat
83rd	Nicholas A. Spano*	Rep./Cons.
84th	Gordon W. Burrows*	Republican
85th	Ronald C. Tocci	Democrat
86th	Richard L. Brodsky*	Dem./Lib.
87th	Peter M. Sullivan*	Rep./Cons.
88th	Gregory P. Young*	Democrat
89th	Henry William Barnett*	Rep./Cons.
90th	Vincent Leibell*	Rep./Cons.
91st	George E. Pataki	Rep./Cons.
92nd	Robert J. Connor*	Dem./Lib.
93rd	Samuel Colman	Dem./Lib.
94th	Mary M. McPhillips*	Democrat
95th	William J. Larkin, Jr.*	Rep./Cons.
96th	Lawrence E. Bennett*	Democrat
97th	Stephen M. Saland*	Rep./Cons.
98th	Richard I. Coombe*	Rep./Cons.
99th	Glenn E. Warren*	Rep./Cons.
100th	Neil W. Kelleher*	Rep./Cons./RTL
101st	Maurice D. Hinchey*	Dem./Lib.
102nd	Clarence D. Lane*	Rep./Cons.
103rd	Arnold W. Proskin	Rep./Cons.
104th	Richard J. Conners*	Dem./Lib.
105th	Paul D. Tonko*	Dem./Lib.
106th	Michael R. McNulty*	Dem./Lib.
107th	James Tedisco*	Rep./Cons.
108th	Robert A. D'Andrea*	Rep./Cons.
109th	Glenn H. Harris*	Rep./Cons.
110th	Andrew W. Ryan, Jr.*	Rep./Cons.	on November 5, 1985, elected D.A. of Clinton County^[14]
	Chris Ortloff	Republican	on February 18, 1986, elected to fill vacancy
111th	John W. McCann*	Rep./Cons.
112th	John G. A. O'Neil*	Republican
113th	Anthony J. Casale*	Rep./Cons.
114th	H. Robert Nortz*	Rep./Cons.
115th	William R. Sears*	Rep./Cons.
116th	Richard S. Ruggiero*	Democrat	on March 21, 1986, pleaded guilty to attempted sexual abuse^[15]
117th	Ray T. Chesbro*	Rep./Cons.
118th	Michael J. Bragman*	Dem./Cons.
119th	William E. Bush*	Rep./Cons.
120th	Melvin N. Zimmer*	Dem./Cons.
121st	Hyman M. Miller*	Rep./Cons.
122nd	Clarence D. Rappleyea Jr.*	Rep./Cons.	Minority Leader
123rd	Richard H. Miller	Rep./Cons.
124th	James R. Tallon Jr.*	Democrat
125th	Hugh S. MacNeil*	Republican
126th	George H. Winner, Jr.*	Rep./Cons.
127th	Randy Kuhl*	Rep./Cons.
128th	Michael F. Nozzolio*	Rep./Cons.
129th	Frank G. Talomie Sr.*	Rep./Cons.
130th	Louise M. Slaughter*	Democrat	on November 4, 1986, elected to the 100th U.S. Congress
131st	Gary Proud*	Dem./Lib.
132nd	Pinny Cooke*	Rep./Cons.
133rd	David F. Gantt*	Dem./Lib.
134th	Roger J. Robach*	Dem./Cons.
135th	James F. Nagle*	Rep./Cons.
136th	Richard C. Wesley*	Republican	on November 4, 1986, elected to the New York Supreme Court
137th	R. Stephen Hawley*	Rep./Cons.
138th	Joseph T. Pillittere*	Dem./Lib.
139th	Matthew J. Murphy, Jr.*	Dem./Cons.
140th	Robin L. Schimminger*	Democrat
141st	Arthur O. Eve*	Dem./Lib.
142nd	John B. Sheffer II*	Rep./Cons.
143rd	Dennis T. Gorski*	Dem./Cons.
144th	William B. Hoyt*	Dem./Lib.
145th	Richard J. Keane*	Dem./Cons./RTL
146th	Francis J. Pordum*	Dem./Cons./RTL
147th	L. William Paxon*	Rep./Cons.
148th	Vincent J. Graber Sr.*	Dem./Cons.
149th	Daniel B. Walsh*	Democrat	Majority Leader
150th	William L. Parment*	Dem./Lib.

Employees

• Clerk: Francine Misasi

Notes

1. CUOMO PLAN SEEKS REVIVAL OF SPIRIT OF THE NEW DEAL by Maurice Carroll, in The New York Times on January 10, 1985
2. LAWMAKERS ACT ON RENTS, AND RECESS by Edward A. Gargan, in The New York Times on July 1, 1985
3. AT SPECIAL ALBANY SESSION, SENATE REJECTS 5 OF 6 CUOMO PLANS by Maurice Carroll, in The New York Times on December 11, 1985
4. WHAT CUOMO SEEKS IN SPECIAL SESSION by Jeffrey Schmalz, in The New York Times on December 8, 1985
5. CUOMO, IN STATE OF STATE MESSAGE, OFFERS ENVIRONMENT AND JOB PLANS by Maurice Carroll, in The New York Times on January 9, 1986
6. CURB VOTED ON GIFTS TO ESTIMATE BOARD by Jeffrey Schmalz, in The New York Times on July 4, 1986
7. ALBANY VOTE ADDS NEW YORK CITY JUDGES by Jeffrey Schmalz, in The New York Times on December 12, 1986
8. FINANCING PLAN FOR TRANSIT AID VOTED IN ALBANY by Jeffrey Schmalz, in The New York Times on December 31, 1986
9. CUOMO CALLS EXTRA SESSION OF LEGISLATURE by Jeffrey Schmalz, in The New York Times on December 4, 1986
10. VELELLA WINS STATE SENATE RACE in The New York Times on April 23, 1986
11. Queens District Elects Democrat to Assembly in The New York Times on February 19, 1986
12. FLAKE HAS SLIGHT LEAD IN QUEENS HOUSE VOTE by Glenn Fowler, in The New York Times on July 11, 1986
13. Court Upholds Victory In Election in Queens in The New York Times on July 23, 1986
14. Barie out; Ortloff likely GOP pick by Tom Bergin, in the Press–Republican, of Plattsburgh, on December 7, 1985
15. Legislator Admits Guilt in Sex Case in The New York Times on March 22, 1986

Sources

• THE RESULTS OF THE BALLOTING FOR NEW YORK STATE SENATE in The New York Times on November 8, 1984
• MEMBERS OF NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY AND VOTES THEY RECEIVED in The New York Times on November 8, 1984
• G.O.P. SENATORS FROM NEW YORK CITY AND L.I. GET NEW POWER in The New York Times on January 10, 1985