# 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 1986 New York state election, 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 (Rep.), a lawyer of Mount Kisco; Nancy Larraine Hoffmann (Dem.), of Syracuse; Olga A. Méndez (Dem.), of East Harlem; Velmanette Montgomery (Dem.), of Brooklyn; and Suzi Oppenheimer (Dem.), of Mamaroneck; 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; 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; Catherine Nolan (Dem.), of Queens; Barbara Patton (Dem.), a lawyer of Hempstead; Toni Rettaliata (Rep.), of Huntington; and Helene Weinstein (Dem.), a lawyer of Brooklyn—were re-elected. Barbara M. Clark (Dem.), of Queens, was also elected to the Assembly.
On April 28, 1987, Audrey Pheffer (Dem.), 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 (Rep.), of Franklinville, was elected to fill a vacancy in the Assembly.
The 1987 New York state election was held on November 3. Assemblywoman Toni Rettaliata (Rep.) was elected as Supervisor of the Town of Huntington.
On March 15, 1988, Earlene Hill Hooper (Dem.), 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 (the 210th) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 7, 1987; and recessed indefinitely in the morning of July 11.
Mel Miller (Dem.) was elected Speaker of the Assembly.
Warren M. Anderson (Rep.) was re-elected Temporary President of the Senate.
The Legislature met for the second regular session (the 211th) 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 (the)..."
| District | Senator | Party | Notes |
| 1st | Kenneth LaValle* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 2nd | James J. Lack* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 3rd | Caesar Trunzo* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 4th | Owen H. Johnson* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 5th | Ralph J. Marino* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 6th | John R. Dunne* | Rep./Cons. | Chairman of Judiciary; Deputy Majority Leader |
| 7th | Michael J. Tully Jr.* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 8th | Norman J. Levy* | Rep./Cons. | Chairman of Transportation |
| 9th | Dean Skelos* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 10th | Andrew Jenkins* | Democrat | |
| 11th | Frank Padavan* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 12th | Leonard P. Stavisky* | Dem./Rep./Lib. | |
| 13th | Emanuel R. Gold* | Democrat | |
| 14th | George Onorato* | Democrat | |
| 15th | Martin J. Knorr* | Rep./Cons./RTL | |
| 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* | Dem./Lib. | |
| 23rd | Christopher J. Mega* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 24th | John J. Marchi* | Rep./Dem./Lib. | 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 | David Paterson* | Democrat | |
| 30th | Olga A. Méndez* | Dem./Lib. | |
| 31st | Joseph L. Galiber* | Dem./Lib. | |
| 32nd | Israel Ruiz Jr.* | Dem./Lib. | |
| 33rd | Abraham Bernstein* | Dem./Lib. | |
| 34th | Guy J. Velella* | Rep./Cons./RTL | |
| 35th | Nicholas A. Spano* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 36th | Suzi Oppenheimer* | Dem./Lib. | |
| 37th | Mary B. Goodhue* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 38th | Eugene Levy* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 39th | Richard E. Schermerhorn* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 40th | Charles D. Cook* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 41st | Jay P. Rolison Jr.* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 42nd | Howard C. Nolan Jr.* | Democrat | |
| 43rd | Joseph Bruno* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 44th | Hugh T. Farley* | Rep./Cons. | 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 | James L. Seward | Rep./Cons. | |
| 51st | Warren M. Anderson* | Rep./Cons. | re-elected Temporary President |
| 52nd | Randy Kuhl* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 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./RTL | |

### 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./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. | on November 3, 1987, elected as Supervisor of Huntington |
| 10th | James D. Conte | Republican | on March 15, 1988, elected to fill vacancy |
| 11th | Patrick G. Halpin* | Democrat | on November 3, 1987, elected as Suffolk County Executive |
| 11th | Robert K. Sweeney | Democrat | on March 15, 1988, elected to fill vacancy |
| 12th | Philip B. Healey* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 13th | Lewis J. Yevoli* | Democrat | |
| 14th | Frederick E. Parola* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 15th | Daniel Frisa* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 16th | Thomas DiNapoli | Dem./Lib. | |
| 17th | Kemp Hannon* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 18th | Barbara Patton* | Dem./Lib. | in January 1988 appointed to the NYS Workers' Compensation Board |
| 18th | Earlene Hill Hooper | Democrat | on March 15, 1988, elected to fill vacancy |
| 19th | Armand P. D'Amato* | Republican | resigned on February 23, 1987. |
| 19th | Charles J. O'Shea | Republican | on April 7, 1987, elected to fill vacancy |
| 20th | Arthur J. Kremer* | Dem./Lib. | resigned on December 14, 1988 |
| 21st | Gregory R. Becker* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 22nd | George H. Madison* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 23rd | Gerdi E. Lipschutz* | Dem./Lib. | resigned on March 9, 1987 |
| 23rd | Audrey Pheffer | Democrat | on April 28, 1987, elected to fill vacancy |
| 24th | Saul Weprin* | Democrat | Chairman of Ways and Means |
| 25th | Douglas Prescott* | Rep./Cons./RTL | |
| 26th | Morton C. Hillman | Democrat | |
| 27th | Nettie Mayersohn* | Democrat | |
| 28th | Alan G. Hevesi* | Democrat | |
| 29th | Cynthia Jenkins* | Dem./Lib. | |
| 30th | Joseph Crowley | Democrat | |
| 31st | Anthony S. Seminerio* | Dem./Cons. | |
| 32nd | Edward Abramson* | Democrat | |
| 33rd | Barbara M. Clark | Democrat | |
| 34th | Ivan C. Lafayette* | Democrat | |
| 35th | Helen M. Marshall* | Democrat | |
| 36th | Denis J. Butler* | Democrat | |
| 37th | Catherine Nolan* | Democrat | |
| 38th | Frederick D. Schmidt* | Dem./RTL | |
| 39th | Anthony J. Genovesi | Democrat | |
| 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. | elected Speaker |
| 45th | Daniel L. Feldman* | Democrat | |
| 46th | Howard L. Lasher* | Dem./Lib. | |
| 47th | Frank J. Barbaro* | Dem./Lib. | |
| 48th | Dov Hikind* | Democrat | |
| 49th | Peter J. Abbate Jr. | Democrat | |
| 50th | Joseph R. Lentol* | Democrat | |
| 51st | James F. Brennan* | Dem./Lib. | |
| 52nd | Eileen C. Dugan* | Dem./Lib. | |
| 53rd | Vito J. Lopez* | Dem./Lib. | |
| 54th | Thomas F. Catapano* | Dem./Lib. | |
| 55th | William F. Boyland* | Dem./Lib. | |
| 56th | Albert Vann* | Liberal | |
| 57th | Roger L. Green* | Liberal | |
| 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. | Chairman of Codes |
| 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* | Democrat | |
| 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* | Dem./Lib. | |
| 75th | John C. Dearie* | Dem./Lib. | |
| 76th | Aurelia Greene* | Dem./Lib. | |
| 77th | Jose Rivera* | Dem./Lib. | on November 3, 1987, elected to the New York City Council |
| 77th | Israel Martinez | Democrat | on March 15, 1988, elected to fill vacancy |
| 78th | Gloria Davis* | Democrat | |
| 79th | George Friedman* | Dem./Lib. | |
| 80th | G. Oliver Koppell* | Dem./Lib. | Chairman of Judiciary |
| 81st | Eliot Engel* | Dem./Lib. | on November 8, 1988, elected to the 101st U.S. Congress |
| 82nd | Larry Seabrook* | Dem./Lib. | |
| 83rd | Terence M. Zaleski | Democrat | |
| 84th | Gordon W. Burrows* | Rep./Cons. | on November 8, 1988, elected to the New York Supreme Court |
| 85th | Ronald C. Tocci* | Democrat | |
| 86th | Richard L. Brodsky* | Democrat | |
| 87th | Peter M. Sullivan* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 88th | Gregory P. Young* | Dem./Lib. | |
| 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 | John Faso | Republican | |
| 103rd | Arnold W. Proskin* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 104th | Richard J. Conners* | Dem./Lib. | |
| 105th | Paul D. Tonko* | Dem./Lib. | |
| 106th | Michael R. McNulty* | Dem./Lib. | on November 8, 1988, elected to the 101st U.S. Congress |
| 107th | James Tedisco* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 108th | Robert A. D'Andrea* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 109th | Glenn H. Harris* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 110th | Chris Ortloff* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 111th | John W. McCann* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 112th | John G. A. O'Neil* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 113th | Anthony J. Casale* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 114th | H. Robert Nortz* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 115th | William R. Sears* | Rep./Cons./RTL | |
| 116th | Ralph J. Eannace Jr. | Rep./Cons. | |
| 117th | Ray T. Chesbro* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 118th | Michael J. Bragman* | Democrat | |
| 119th | William E. Bush* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 120th | Melvin N. Zimmer* | Democrat | |
| 121st | Hyman M. Miller* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 122nd | Clarence D. Rappleyea Jr.* | Republican | Minority Leader |
| 123rd | Richard H. Miller* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 124th | James R. Tallon Jr.* | Democrat | Majority Leader from April 28, 1987 |
| 125th | Hugh S. MacNeil* | Republican | |
| 126th | George H. Winner Jr.* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 127th | Donald R. Davidsen | Republican | |
| 128th | Michael F. Nozzolio* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 129th | Frank G. Talomie Sr.* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 130th | Robert L. King | Rep./Cons. | |
| 131st | Gary Proud* | Dem./Rep. | |
| 132nd | Pinny Cooke* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 133rd | David F. Gantt* | Democrat | |
| 134th | Roger J. Robach* | Dem./Cons. | |
| 135th | James F. Nagle* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 136th | John W. Hasper | Republican | |
| 137th | R. Stephen Hawley* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 138th | Joseph T. Pillittere* | Dem./Lib. | |
| 139th | Matthew J. Murphy Jr.* | Dem./Cons./RTL | |
| 140th | Robin L. Schimminger* | Democrat | |
| 141st | Arthur O. Eve* | Dem./Lib. | |
| 142nd | John B. Sheffer II* | Rep./Cons. | |
| 143rd | Dennis T. Gorski* | Dem./Cons. | on November 3, 1987, elected as Erie County Executive |
| 143rd | Paul Tokasz | Democrat | on March 15, 1988, elected to fill vacancy |
| 144th | William B. Hoyt* | Dem./Lib. | |
| 145th | Richard J. Keane* | Dem./Cons. | |
| 146th | Francis J. Pordum* | Dem./Cons. | |
| 147th | L. William Paxon* | Rep./Cons./RTL | on November 8, 1988, elected to the 101st U.S. Congress |
| 148th | Vincent J. Graber Sr.* | Dem./Cons. | |
| 149th | Daniel B. Walsh* | Democrat | Majority Leader; resigned his seat effective April 26, 1987 |
| 149th | Patricia McGee | Republican | on June 16, 1987, elected to fill vacancy |
| 150th | William L. Parment* | Dem./Lib. | |

### Employees

* Clerk: Francine Misasi