New York State Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb says he is resigning his leadership post following a drunk driving arrest on New Year’s Eve. The Republican from Canandaigua said Friday he will not allow his personal challenges distract from the mission of the Assembly Minority Conference.
Fellow Republican Assemblyman Kieran Michael Lalor of the Hudson Valley and Democratic Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara of the Capital Region had called for Kolb to step down.
Kolb has been minority leader since 2009.
"I will be forever grateful for the confidence my colleagues have placed in me for the past 10 years," Kolb said in a statement. "But in my heart, I know that this is the right time for a new leader to step in and advance an agenda that benefits all New Yorkers. The events of December 31 are ones I will always deeply regret. On a personal level, I have begun the process of seeking professional help in order to heal, learn, and fully address the challenges that I, along with my family, currently face."
The Democratic-controlled state legislature convenes for a new session on January 8.
