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Majority Leader Canestrari to leave New York Assembly

Another powerful Capital Region lawmaker is stepping down. WAMC’s Ian Pickus has more…

Citing sources, the Times-Union reports that New York State Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari will announce today that he is not seeking reelection.

The 68-year-old Democrat has planned a press conference for 11 a.m. The former Cohoes mayor joined the Assembly in 1989 and rose to Majority Leader five years ago, becoming the highest-ranking upstate legislator.

Speaking on WAMC’s Capitol Connection program last year, Canestrari described his change in approach to same-sex marriage after years of opposition.

The Senate would later approve same-sex marriage by a razor-thin margin.

Canestrari joins fellow Democrats Bob Reilly of Colonie and longtime Albany Assemblyman Jack McEneny in stepping aside, meaning the Albany-area will have a host of new representatives in the lower chamber.

 

 

A lifelong resident of the Capital Region, Ian joined WAMC in late 2008 and became news director in 2013. He began working on Morning Edition and has produced The Capitol Connection, Congressional Corner, and several other WAMC programs. Ian can also be heard as the host of the WAMC News Podcast and on The Roundtable and various newscasts. Ian holds a BA in English and journalism and an MA in English, both from the University at Albany, where he has taught journalism since 2013.