187th New York State Legislature


The 187th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 7, 1987, to December 31, 1988, during the fifth and sixth years of Mario Cuomo's governorship, in Albany.

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 Right to Life Party, the Liberal Party, the New Alliance Party and the Socialist Workers Party also nominated tickets.

Elections

The New York state election, 1986, was held on November 4. Governor Mario Cuomo was re-elected, and Congressman Stan Lundine was elected Lieutenant Governor, both Democrats. The elections to the other three statewide elective offices resulted in the re-election of the three incumbent officeholders: a Republican Comptroller, a Democratic Attorney General and a Republican U.S. Senator. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for Governor, was: Democrats 2,655,000; Republicans 1,212,000; Conservatives 152,000; Right to Life 131,000; Liberals 120,000; New Alliance 24,000. The Socialist Workers' candidate for U.S. Senator polled about 7,300 votes.
21 of the 24 women members of the previous legislature—State Senators Mary B. Goodhue, a lawyer of Mount Kisco; Nancy Larraine Hoffmann, of Syracuse; Olga A. Méndez, of East Harlem; Velmanette Montgomery, of Brooklyn; and Suzi Oppenheimer, of Mamaroneck; and Assemblywomen Elizabeth Connelly, of Staten Island; Pinny Cooke, of Rochester; Geraldine L. Daniels, of the Bronx; Gloria Davis, of the Bronx; Eileen C. Dugan, of Brooklyn; Aurelia Greene, of the Bronx; Rhoda S. Jacobs, of Brooklyn; Cynthia Jenkins, a librarian of Queens; Gerdi E. Lipschutz, of Queens; Helen M. Marshall, a teacher and librarian of Queens; Nettie Mayersohn, of Queens; Mary M. McPhillips, of Middletown; Catherine Nolan, of Queens; Barbara Patton, a lawyer of Hempstead; Toni Rettaliata, of Huntington; and Helene Weinstein, a lawyer of Brooklyn—were re-elected. Barbara M. Clark, of Queens, was also elected to the Assembly.
On April 28, 1987, Audrey Pheffer, of Queens, was elected to fill the vacancy in the Assembly caused by the resignation of Gerdi E. Lipschutz.
On June 16, 1987, Patricia McGee, of Franklinville, was elected to fill a vacancy in the Assembly.
The New York state election, 1987, was held on November 3. Assemblywoman Toni Rettaliata was elected as Supervisor of the Town of Huntington.
On March 15, 1988, Earlene Hill Hooper, of Hempstead, was elected to fill the vacancy in the Assembly caused by the appointment of Barbara Patton to the NYS Workers' Compensation Board. Thus a total of 25 women were members of this Legislature, but not more than 23 at the same time.

Sessions

The Legislature met for the first regular session at the State Capitol in Albany on January 7, 1987; and recessed indefinitely in the morning of July 11.
Mel Miller was elected Speaker of the Assembly.
Warren M. Anderson was re-elected Temporary President of the Senate.
The Legislature met for the second regular session at the State Capitol in Albany on January 6, 1988; and recessed indefinitely in the morning of August 25.
The Legislature met again from November 28, to December 1, 1988. This session was called, among other issues, to consider legislation concerning the Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant.
The Legislature met again on December 28, 1988, to increase the salaries of the next session's state legislators, and the state commissioners.

State Senate

Senators

The asterisk denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Nicholas A. Spano and Randy Kuhl changed from the Assembly to the Senate.
Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on..."
DistrictSenatorPartyNotes
1stKenneth LaValle*Rep./Cons.
2ndJames J. Lack*Rep./Cons.
3rdCaesar Trunzo*Rep./Cons.
4thOwen H. Johnson*Rep./Cons.
5thRalph J. Marino*Rep./Cons.
6thJohn R. Dunne*Rep./Cons.Chairman of Judiciary; Deputy Majority Leader
7thMichael J. Tully Jr.*Rep./Cons.
8thNorman J. Levy*Rep./Cons.Chairman of Transportation
9thDean Skelos*Rep./Cons.
10thAndrew Jenkins*Democrat
11thFrank Padavan*Rep./Cons.
12thLeonard P. Stavisky*Dem./Rep./Lib.
13thEmanuel R. Gold*Democrat
14thGeorge Onorato*Democrat
15thMartin J. Knorr*Rep./Cons./RTL
16thJeremy S. Weinstein*Dem./Lib.
17thHoward E. Babbush*Dem./Lib.
18thDonald Halperin*Democrat
19thMartin M. Solomon*Democrat
20thThomas J. Bartosiewicz*Democrat
21stMarty Markowitz*Democrat
22ndVelmanette Montgomery*Dem./Lib.
23rdChristopher J. Mega*Rep./Cons.
24thJohn J. Marchi*Rep./Dem./Lib.Chairman of Finance
25thMartin Connor*Dem./Lib.
26thRoy M. Goodman*Rep./Lib.
27thManfred Ohrenstein*Dem./Lib.Minority Leader
28thFranz S. Leichter*Dem./Lib.
29thDavid Paterson*Democrat
30thOlga A. Méndez*Dem./Lib.
31stJoseph L. Galiber*Dem./Lib.
32ndIsrael Ruiz, Jr.*Dem./Lib.
33rdAbraham Bernstein*Dem./Lib.
34thGuy J. Velella*Rep./Cons./RTL
35thNicholas A. Spano*Rep./Cons.
36thSuzi Oppenheimer*Dem./Lib.
37thMary B. Goodhue*Rep./Cons.
38thEugene Levy*Rep./Cons.
39thRichard E. Schermerhorn*Rep./Cons.
40thCharles D. Cook*Rep./Cons.
41stJay P. Rolison Jr.*Rep./Cons.
42ndHoward C. Nolan Jr.*Democrat
43rdJoseph Bruno*Rep./Cons.
44thHugh T. Farley*Rep./Cons.Chairman of Environmental Conservation
45thRonald B. Stafford*Rep./Cons.
46thJohn M. McHugh*Rep./Cons.
47thJames H. Donovan*Rep./Cons.Chairman of Education
48thNancy Larraine Hoffmann*Democrat
49thTarky Lombardi Jr.*Rep./Cons.
50thJames L. SewardRep./Cons.
51stWarren M. Anderson*Rep./Cons.re-elected Temporary President
52ndRandy Kuhl*Rep./Cons.
53rdL. Paul Kehoe*Rep./Cons.
54thJohn D. Perry*Democrat
55thRalph E. Quattrociocchi*Dem./Cons.
56thJess J. Present*Republican
57thWilliam Stachowski*Dem./Cons.
58thAnthony M. Masiello*Dem./Lib.
59thDale M. Volker*Rep./Cons.
60thWalter J. Floss Jr.*Rep./Cons.
61stJohn B. Daly*Rep./Cons./RTL

Employees

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..."
DistrictAssembly memberPartyNotes
1stJoseph Sawicki Jr.*Rep./Cons.
2ndJohn L. Behan*Rep./Cons.
3rdIcilio W. Bianchi, Jr.*Democrat
4thRobert J. Gaffney*Rep./RTL
5thPaul E. Harenberg*Democrat
6thRobert C. Wertz*Rep./Cons./RTL
7thThomas F. Barraga*Rep./Cons./RTL
8thJohn C. Cochrane*Rep./Cons.
9thJohn J. FlanaganRep./Cons./RTL
10thToni Rettaliata*Rep./Cons.on November 3, 1987, elected as Supervisor of Huntington
10thJames D. ConteRepublicanon March 15, 1988, elected to fill vacancy
11thPatrick G. Halpin*Democraton November 3, 1987, elected as Suffolk County Executive
11thRobert K. SweeneyDemocraton March 15, 1988, elected to fill vacancy
12thPhilip B. Healey*Rep./Cons.
13thLewis J. Yevoli*Democrat
14thFrederick E. Parola*Rep./Cons.
15thDaniel Frisa*Rep./Cons.
16thThomas DiNapoliDem./Lib.
17thKemp Hannon*Rep./Cons.
18thBarbara Patton*Dem./Lib.in January 1988 appointed to the NYS Workers' Compensation Board
18thEarlene Hill HooperDemocraton March 15, 1988, elected to fill vacancy
19thArmand P. D'Amato*Republicanresigned on February 23, 1987.
19thCharles J. O'SheaRepublicanon April 7, 1987, elected to fill vacancy
20thArthur J. Kremer*Dem./Lib.resigned on December 14, 1988
21stGregory R. Becker*Rep./Cons.
22ndGeorge H. Madison*Rep./Cons.
23rdGerdi E. Lipschutz*Dem./Lib.resigned on March 9, 1987
23rdAudrey PhefferDemocraton April 28, 1987, elected to fill vacancy
24thSaul Weprin*DemocratChairman of Ways and Means
25thDouglas Prescott*Rep./Cons./RTL
26thMorton C. HillmanDemocrat
27thNettie Mayersohn*Democrat
28thAlan G. Hevesi*Democrat
29thCynthia Jenkins*Dem./Lib.
30thJoseph CrowleyDemocrat
31stAnthony S. Seminerio*Dem./Cons.
32ndEdward Abramson*Democrat
33rdBarbara M. ClarkDemocrat
34thIvan C. Lafayette*Democrat
35thHelen M. Marshall*Democrat
36thDenis J. Butler*Democrat
37thCatherine Nolan*Democrat
38thFrederick D. Schmidt*Dem./RTL
39thAnthony J. GenovesiDemocrat
40thEdward Griffith*Dem./Lib.
41stHelene Weinstein*Democrat
42ndRhoda S. Jacobs*Dem./Lib.
43rdClarence Norman Jr.*Democrat
44thMel Miller*Dem./Lib.elected Speaker
45thDaniel L. Feldman*Democrat
46thHoward L. Lasher*Dem./Lib.
47thFrank J. Barbaro*Dem./Lib.
48thDov Hikind*Democrat
49thPeter J. Abbate Jr.Democrat
50thJoseph R. Lentol*Democrat
51stJames F. Brennan*Dem./Lib.
52ndEileen C. Dugan*Dem./Lib.
53rdVito J. Lopez*Dem./Lib.
54thThomas F. Catapano*Dem./Lib.
55thWilliam F. Boyland*Dem./Lib.
56thAlbert Vann*Liberal
57thRoger L. Green*Liberal
58thElizabeth Connelly*Democrat
59thEric N. Vitaliano*Dem./Cons.
60thRobert A. Straniere*Rep./Cons./RTL
61stWilliam F. Passannante*Dem./Lib.
62ndSheldon Silver*Dem./Lib.Chairman of Codes
63rdSteven Sanders*Dem./Lib.
64thRichard N. Gottfried*Dem./Lib.
65thAlexander B. Grannis*Dem./Lib.
66thMark Alan Siegel*Dem./Lib.
67thJerrold Nadler*Dem./Lib.
68thAngelo Del Toro*Democrat
69thEdward C. Sullivan*Dem./Lib.
70thGeraldine L. Daniels*Dem./Lib.
71stHerman D. Farrell, Jr.*Democrat
72ndJohn Brian Murtaugh*Dem./Lib.
73rdJosé E. Serrano*Dem./Lib.
74thHector L. Diaz*Dem./Lib.
75thJohn C. Dearie*Dem./Lib.
76thAurelia Greene*Dem./Lib.
77thJose Rivera*Dem./Lib.on November 3, 1987, elected to the New York City Council
77thIsrael MartinezDemocraton March 15, 1988, elected to fill vacancy
78thGloria Davis*Democrat
79thGeorge Friedman*Dem./Lib.
80thG. Oliver Koppell*Dem./Lib.Chairman of Judiciary
81stEliot Engel*Dem./Lib.on November 8, 1988, elected to the 101st U.S. Congress
82ndLarry Seabrook*Dem./Lib.
83rdTerence M. ZaleskiDemocrat
84thGordon W. Burrows*Rep./Cons.on November 8, 1988, elected to the New York Supreme Court
85thRonald C. Tocci*Democrat
86thRichard L. Brodsky*Democrat
87thPeter M. Sullivan*Rep./Cons.
88thGregory P. Young*Dem./Lib.
89thHenry William Barnett*Rep./Cons.
90thVincent Leibell*Rep./Cons.
91stGeorge E. Pataki*Rep./Cons.
92ndRobert J. Connor*Dem./Lib.
93rdSamuel Colman*Dem./Lib.
94thMary M. McPhillips*Democrat
95thWilliam J. Larkin, Jr.*Rep./Cons.
96thLawrence E. Bennett*Democrat
97thStephen M. Saland*Rep./Cons.
98thRichard I. Coombe*Rep./Cons.
99thGlenn E. Warren*Rep./Cons.
100thNeil W. Kelleher*Rep./Cons./RTL
101stMaurice D. Hinchey*Dem./Lib.
102ndJohn FasoRepublican
103rdArnold W. Proskin*Rep./Cons.
104thRichard J. Conners*Dem./Lib.
105thPaul D. Tonko*Dem./Lib.
106thMichael R. McNulty*Dem./Lib.on November 8, 1988, elected to the 101st U.S. Congress
107thJames Tedisco*Rep./Cons.
108thRobert A. D'Andrea*Rep./Cons.
109thGlenn H. Harris*Rep./Cons.
110thChris Ortloff*Rep./Cons.
111thJohn W. McCann*Rep./Cons.
112thJohn G. A. O'Neil*Rep./Cons.
113thAnthony J. Casale*Rep./Cons.
114thH. Robert Nortz*Rep./Cons.
115thWilliam R. Sears*Rep./Cons./RTL
116thRalph J. Eannace Jr.Rep./Cons.
117thRay T. Chesbro*Rep./Cons.
118thMichael J. Bragman*Democrat
119thWilliam E. Bush*Rep./Cons.
120thMelvin N. Zimmer*Democrat
121stHyman M. Miller*Rep./Cons.
122ndClarence D. Rappleyea Jr.*RepublicanMinority Leader
123rdRichard H. Miller*Rep./Cons.
124thJames R. Tallon Jr.*DemocratMajority Leader from April 28, 1987
125thHugh S. MacNeil*Republican
126thGeorge H. Winner, Jr.*Rep./Cons.
127thDonald R. DavidsenRepublican
128thMichael F. Nozzolio*Rep./Cons.
129thFrank G. Talomie Sr.*Rep./Cons.
130thRobert L. KingRep./Cons.
131stGary Proud*Dem./Rep.
132ndPinny Cooke*Rep./Cons.
133rdDavid F. Gantt*Democrat
134thRoger J. Robach*Dem./Cons.
135thJames F. Nagle*Rep./Cons.
136thJohn W. HasperRepublican
137thR. Stephen Hawley*Rep./Cons.
138thJoseph T. Pillittere*Dem./Lib.
139thMatthew J. Murphy, Jr.*Dem./Cons./RTL
140thRobin L. Schimminger*Democrat
141stArthur O. Eve*Dem./Lib.
142ndJohn B. Sheffer II*Rep./Cons.
143rdDennis T. Gorski*Dem./Cons.on November 3, 1987, elected as Erie County Executive
143rdPaul TokaszDemocraton March 15, 1988, elected to fill vacancy
144thWilliam B. Hoyt*Dem./Lib.
145thRichard J. Keane*Dem./Cons.
146thFrancis J. Pordum*Dem./Cons.
147thL. William Paxon*Rep./Cons./RTLon November 8, 1988, elected to the 101st U.S. Congress
148thVincent J. Graber Sr.*Dem./Cons.
149thDaniel B. Walsh*DemocratMajority Leader; resigned his seat effective April 26, 1987
149thPatricia McGeeRepublicanon June 16, 1987, elected to fill vacancy
150thWilliam L. Parment*Dem./Lib.

Employees