Dale Volker
Encyclopedia
Dale Volker is a New York State Senator
representing the 59th Senate District, which comprises Wyoming County
, as well as portions of Erie
, Livingston
and Ontario
Counties. Volker is a Republican.
Senator Volker was first elected in a special election held in 1975 to fill a vacancy created by State Supreme Court
Justice Thomas McGowan. Prior to this, Volker had served as a member of the New York State Assembly
for two years.
Volker serves on the Codes Committee and is the "Chairman" of the Western New York Delegation, member of the Senate Subcommittee on Alcoholism, and member of the Senate Public Protection Subcommittee.
Prior to 1987 he was Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Energy.
His other committee assignments include the Senate Standing Committees on Banks, Cities, Crime Victims, Crime and Corrections, Finance, Judiciary, Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities and Rules.
Prior to his election the New York State Legislature
, Volker worked several years as a member of the Depew
Police Department.
He holds a J.D.
from the University at Buffalo Law School
, and is a graduate of Canisius College
.
On April 30, 2010, Senator Volker announced his retirement from the New York State Senate.
reform in the state. Volker helped put the original Rockefeller laws in place as a way of combating the commutation of drug sentences by downstate, and particularly NYC circuit judges. Gabriel Sayegh, author of the piece and project director of New York City's Drug Policy Alliance
office, explains that Volker's district is heavily benefited by the state's prison industrial complex.
Volker has also suffered criticism for the use of private investigators to harass and intimidate voters who had signed petitions for his opponents. Volker also subpoenaed over 90 petition signers as part of a lawsuit to have challenger Kathy Konst removed from the ballot. Volker has also hired investigators to sift through Konst's records in Palm Beach County, Florida
, for use in attack ads.
Volker faced Kathy Konst
, running on the Democratic ballot line, in the general election. Volker defeated Konst by a margin of 55.5% to 44.4%, losing the populous Erie County but faring well on high turnout in the rural areas.
Three Republicans were said to be challenging Volker for re-election in 2010.
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
representing the 59th Senate District, which comprises Wyoming County
Wyoming County, New York
Wyoming County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. At the 2010 census, the population was 42,155. The county seat is Warsaw. The name is from a modified Delaware Indian word meaning "broad bottom lands"...
, as well as portions of Erie
Erie County, New York
Erie County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 919,040. The county seat is Buffalo. The county's name comes from Lake Erie, which in turn comes from the Erie tribe of American Indians who lived south and east of the lake before 1654.Erie...
, Livingston
Livingston County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 64,328 people, 22,150 households, and 15,349 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 24,023 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
and Ontario
Ontario County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 100,224 people, 38,370 households, and 26,360 families residing in the county. The population density was 156 people per square mile . There were 42,647 housing units at an average density of 66 per square mile...
Counties. Volker is a Republican.
Senator Volker was first elected in a special election held in 1975 to fill a vacancy created by State Supreme Court
New York Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties...
Justice Thomas McGowan. Prior to this, Volker had served as a member of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
for two years.
Volker serves on the Codes Committee and is the "Chairman" of the Western New York Delegation, member of the Senate Subcommittee on Alcoholism, and member of the Senate Public Protection Subcommittee.
Prior to 1987 he was Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Energy.
His other committee assignments include the Senate Standing Committees on Banks, Cities, Crime Victims, Crime and Corrections, Finance, Judiciary, Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities and Rules.
Prior to his election the New York State Legislature
New York Legislature
The New York State Legislature is the term often used to refer to the two houses that act as the state legislature of the U.S. state of New York. The New York Constitution does not designate an official term for the two houses together...
, Volker worked several years as a member of the Depew
Depew, New York
Depew is a village in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 16,629 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area...
Police Department.
He holds a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University at Buffalo Law School
University at Buffalo Law School
The University at Buffalo Law School, the State University of New York is a graduate professional school at the University at Buffalo. It is part of the State University of New York system and is the SUNY system's only law school. U.S...
, and is a graduate of Canisius College
Canisius College
Canisius College is a private Roman Catholic college in Buffalo, New York, United States. The college was founded in 1870 by members of the Society of Jesus from Germany and is named after St. Peter Canisius. The college is one of 28 institutions in the Association of Jesuit Colleges and...
.
On April 30, 2010, Senator Volker announced his retirement from the New York State Senate.
Criticism
An April 26, 2007 article in the Times Union, noted that Volker is a vocal opponent of Rockefeller drug lawRockefeller drug laws
The Rockefeller Drug Laws is the term used to denote the statutes dealing with the sale and possession of "narcotic" drugs in the New York State Penal Law. The laws are named after Nelson Rockefeller, who was the state's governor at the time the laws were adopted...
reform in the state. Volker helped put the original Rockefeller laws in place as a way of combating the commutation of drug sentences by downstate, and particularly NYC circuit judges. Gabriel Sayegh, author of the piece and project director of New York City's Drug Policy Alliance
Drug Policy Alliance
The Drug Policy Alliance is a New York City-based non-profit organization, led by executive director Ethan Nadelmann, with the principal goal of ending the American "War on Drugs"...
office, explains that Volker's district is heavily benefited by the state's prison industrial complex.
Volker has also suffered criticism for the use of private investigators to harass and intimidate voters who had signed petitions for his opponents. Volker also subpoenaed over 90 petition signers as part of a lawsuit to have challenger Kathy Konst removed from the ballot. Volker has also hired investigators to sift through Konst's records in Palm Beach County, Florida
Palm Beach County, Florida
Palm Beach County is the largest county in the state of Florida in total area, and third in population. As of 2010, the county's estimated population was 1,320,134, making it the twenty-eighth most populous in the United States...
, for use in attack ads.
2008 Re-election campaign
Volker narrowly defeated a challenge in the 2008 Republican primary by former mayor David DiPietro, who ran on a platform charging that Volker has failed to serve the needs of western New York. Volker actually lost Erie County, but won on strong turnout in the more rural areas of his district.Volker faced Kathy Konst
Kathy Konst
Kathy Konst is a former legislator and political candidate in western New York state. From 2006 to 2009 she represented Erie County's 5th County Legislature District, was a candidate for the 59th New York State Senate District in the 2008 General Election, and she is now the Commissioner of...
, running on the Democratic ballot line, in the general election. Volker defeated Konst by a margin of 55.5% to 44.4%, losing the populous Erie County but faring well on high turnout in the rural areas.
Three Republicans were said to be challenging Volker for re-election in 2010.