Lawmakers return to Albany this week after a scandal-scarred 2018. Hudson Valley state Senator James Skoufis, who will chair the Investigations and Government Operations Committee, plans to put more emphasis on the Investigations portion. The Democrat is from the 39th District, formerly held by Republican Bill Larkin. He spoke with WAMC’s Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne about the committee and more.
State Senator James Skoufis says he plans to put more emphasis on the Investigations portion as committee chair. In the last session, Hudson Valley Republican Terrence Murphy, who lost his bid for re-election, chaired the committee.
Skoufis is dedicating his own staff to the effort.
Skoufis says Orange County resident and former Brooklyn assistant district attorney Michael Mazzariello will be his chief of investigations. There will be another full-time staff member with an investigative role, and up to two staffers dedicating part of their time. The Woodbury, Orange County resident says areas of interest include things he focused on during six years in the Assembly.
Skoufis formally steps into his role as chair the first day of the legislative session, January 9. The 39th Senate District includes parts of Orange, Rockland and Ulster Counties.
