David Valesky
Encyclopedia
David J. Valesky is a member of the New York State Senate
and the Vice President Pro Tempore of the State Senate.
He is a Democrat
representing the mostly rural 49th Senate District, which encompasses the city of Rome
in Oneida County
, all of Madison County
, eastern and southern Onondaga County
, including the eastern half of the city of Syracuse
, and parts of Cayuga County
in upstate New York
. He was first elected to the office in 2004.
Valesky holds a B.A.
in mathematics
from the State University of New York at Potsdam
and an M.A.
in political science
from the University of Connecticut
.
He served as aide to former New York State Assembly
Majority Leader Michael Bragman
from 1989 to 1995. From 1995 to 2004, he served as vice president of communications at Syracuse's public television and radio station WCNY-TV
/WCNY-FM
and hosted the local public affairs program, Hour CNY. He resigned from WCNY to pursue the 49th District seat.
Valesky is married to wife Julie, and they have three children. The Valesky family currently resides in Oneida
, where Valesky was born and raised. They are Roman Catholics and attend St. Patrick's Parish Church.http://www.davevalesky.com/index.php/page/n/aboutdavid
(R-Fabius) in a hotly contested, closely watched race. It was one of a handful of bellwether contests (since few State Senate districts typically have competitive races due to gerrymandering or entrenched incumbents) in a year when the Brennan Center for Justice of New York University
had released a highly publicized report labeling New York's government as "dysfunctional."
A divisive Republican
primary between Hoffmann and her more conservative challenger, Thomas V. Dadey, Jr., weakened her base of support, resulting in a three-way race after Dadey received the Conservative Party and Independence Party ballot lines. This helped to attract donor interest in Valesky. Hoffmann won the Republican primary with 9,768 votes to Dadey's 7,982 votes, a margin of 55.03% to 44.97%.
Valesky received an endorsement from Nassau County
Executive Tom Suozzi
and ran using ideas from Suozzi's "Fix Albany" campaign. In 2006, however, Valesky actually endorsed Eliot Spitzer
over Suozzi in the Democratic Party primary for Governor.
Hoffmann was seen as out of touch both with the conservative wing of her local party and also with voter anger at the Legislature -- a sentiment which Valesky's campaign skillfully capitalized on with a series of amusing TV ads, while he ran on a platform stressing legislative reform.
Rural areas of the 49th District went heavily for Hoffmann, while Valesky (running on the Democratic and Working Families Party
lines) received strong support mainly from urban Syracuse and its surrounding suburbs. He likely benefited from John Kerry
and Charles Schumer
topping the Democrat ticket; both won Syracuse by comfortable margins. Valesky achieved a 1,060-vote majority on election night, but this lead narrowed to 742 votes as paper and absentee ballots were counted. However, he did not lose the lead, and Hoffmann conceded two weeks later. Valesky received 53,050 votes (50,279 Democratic Party and 2,771 Working Families Party), Hoffmann received 52,308 votes (Republican Party), and Dadey received 13,234 votes (7,820 Independence Party and 5,414 Conservative Party), a margin of 44.73% to 44.11% to 11.16%.
, the Republican candidate. Although Brown received significantly more funding, outspending Valesky nearly 2 to 1, and also was the son of a long-time Assemblyman in the Syracuse suburbs, Valesky prevailed with 53,555 votes (50,075 Democratic Party and 3,480 Working Families Party) over Brown's 36,875 votes (30,502 Republican Party, 3,717 Conservative Party, and 2,656 Independence Party), a margin of 59.22% to 40.78%. Democrats also picked up Brown's Assembly seat.
Valesky tied Brown to Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno
, widely criticized in the media for promoting 'business as usual politics.' Bruno had made the seat a target of GOP efforts to maintain control of the State Senate (they still held onto the chamber despite Valesky's reelection). Valesky also cited the endorsement of Eliot Spitzer (who appeared in commercials for Valesky) and teachers' unions; Brown had argued that Valesky's votes favored giving New York City
an excessive percentage of the state's expenditure on education.
Again, coattails at the top of the Democrat ticket likely helped, as Spitzer and Hillary Rodham Clinton
won landslide elections.
's 39,317 votes.
He is the Democratic Co-Chairman of the Special Committee on Rules and Administration. This committee was created to study Senate rules and make recommendations on rules changes.
announced Valesky's appointment as Vice President Pro Tempore of the Senate. One of Smith's top deputies, Valesky will serve as an ex-officio member of all Senate committees and as Smith's top advisor on Upstate issues. Smith said the position's ex-officio status on all committees will Valesky to address Upstate issues in all committees. In addition he serves as presiding officer of the Senate in Smith's absence, placing him third in line for succession to Governor of New York
should Smith and David Paterson
both resign, die or become incapacitated. Smith also said Valesky will be included in all budget discussions. http://www.wktv.com/news/local/37278894.html Valesky's appointment makes him the highest ranking Upstater in New York State Government and, officially, the third-highest ranked in all of the state (although arguably, Sheldon Silver
, speaker of the New York State Assembly
has more power).
Sponsor, S1453: To require bills and resolutions to be open to sponsorship by any member of the legislature (2005)
Sponsor, S2206: Requires approval by the legislature to increase any fee, rental, charge or toll for the use of the thruway system or any part thereof. (2007)
Sponsor, S1155: Establishes apportionment commission to create apportionment plans for congressional and state legislative districts based on federal censuses; repealer. (2007)
Memo: "To establish an independent reapportionment commission to propose
district boundaries for Congress, State Senate and Assembly districts
every ten years following the U.S. Census."
Sponsor, S6426: Requires retail food stores to label certain foods with approximate miles traveled. (2007)
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...
and the Vice President Pro Tempore of the State Senate.
He is a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
representing the mostly rural 49th Senate District, which encompasses the city of Rome
Rome, New York
Rome is a city in Oneida County, New York, United States. It is located in north-central or "upstate" New York. The population was 44,797 at the 2010 census. It is in New York's 24th congressional district. In 1758, British forces began construction of Fort Stanwix at this strategic location, but...
in Oneida County
Oneida County, New York
Oneida County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 234,878. The county seat is Utica. The name is in honor of the Oneida, an Iroquoian tribe that formerly occupied the region....
, all of Madison County
Madison County, New York
Madison County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 73,442. It is named after James Madison, fourth President of the United States of America...
, eastern and southern Onondaga County
Onondaga County, New York
Onondaga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 467,026. The county seat is Syracuse.Onondaga County is part of the Syracuse, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, including the eastern half of the city of Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, and parts of Cayuga County
Cayuga County, New York
Cayuga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It was named for one of the tribes of Indians in the Iroquois Confederation. Its county seat is Auburn.- History :...
in upstate New York
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
. He was first elected to the office in 2004.
Valesky holds a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
from the State University of New York at Potsdam
State University of New York at Potsdam
The State University of New York at Potsdam, also known as SUNY Potsdam, or, colloquially, Potsdam, is a public university located in the Village of Potsdam in St. Lawrence County, New York. Founded in 1816, it is among the 50 oldest colleges in the United States...
and an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
.
He served as aide to former 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...
Majority Leader Michael Bragman
Michael Bragman
Michael J. Bragman is a former member of the New York State Assembly. He lost his position as majority leader of that body in 2000, after leading a coup against Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver....
from 1989 to 1995. From 1995 to 2004, he served as vice president of communications at Syracuse's public television and radio station WCNY-TV
WCNY-TV
WCNY-TV is Syracuse, New York's public television station and PBS member station. WCNY-TV's programming is also seen in Utica on low-powered repeater W22DO-D channel 24 Digital...
/WCNY-FM
WCNY-FM
WCNY-FM is a public radio station in Syracuse, New York that plays classical music and is a National Public Radio member station...
and hosted the local public affairs program, Hour CNY. He resigned from WCNY to pursue the 49th District seat.
Valesky is married to wife Julie, and they have three children. The Valesky family currently resides in Oneida
Oneida, New York
Oneida is a city in Madison County located west of Oneida Castle and east of Canastota, New York, United States. The population was 10,987 at the 2000 census. The city, like both Oneida County and the nearby silver and china maker, takes its name from the Oneida tribe...
, where Valesky was born and raised. They are Roman Catholics and attend St. Patrick's Parish Church.http://www.davevalesky.com/index.php/page/n/aboutdavid
2004
Valesky defeated longtime incumbent Nancy Larraine HoffmannNancy Larraine Hoffmann
Nancy Larraine Hoffmann is a former Republican State Senator from Central New York State.-Career:She was first elected in 1984 to the New York State Senate representing Syracuse, New York and its surrounding environs, including suburbs and rural areas, as a Democrat...
(R-Fabius) in a hotly contested, closely watched race. It was one of a handful of bellwether contests (since few State Senate districts typically have competitive races due to gerrymandering or entrenched incumbents) in a year when the Brennan Center for Justice of New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
had released a highly publicized report labeling New York's government as "dysfunctional."
A divisive Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
primary between Hoffmann and her more conservative challenger, Thomas V. Dadey, Jr., weakened her base of support, resulting in a three-way race after Dadey received the Conservative Party and Independence Party ballot lines. This helped to attract donor interest in Valesky. Hoffmann won the Republican primary with 9,768 votes to Dadey's 7,982 votes, a margin of 55.03% to 44.97%.
Valesky received an endorsement from Nassau County
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
Executive Tom Suozzi
Thomas Suozzi
Thomas R. "Tom" Suozzi was the county executive of Nassau County, New York. He was first elected to the post of county executive in 2001, the first Democratic county executive since Eugene Nickerson left office in 1971.In 2006, he ran unsuccessfully against Eliot Spitzer for the Democratic...
and ran using ideas from Suozzi's "Fix Albany" campaign. In 2006, however, Valesky actually endorsed Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Laurence Spitzer is an American lawyer, former Democratic Party politician, and political commentator. He was the co-host of In the Arena, a talk-show and punditry forum broadcast on CNN until CNN cancelled his show in July of 2011...
over Suozzi in the Democratic Party primary for Governor.
Hoffmann was seen as out of touch both with the conservative wing of her local party and also with voter anger at the Legislature -- a sentiment which Valesky's campaign skillfully capitalized on with a series of amusing TV ads, while he ran on a platform stressing legislative reform.
Rural areas of the 49th District went heavily for Hoffmann, while Valesky (running on the Democratic and Working Families Party
Working Families Party
The Working Families Party is a minor political party in the United States founded in New York in 1998. There are "sister" parties to the New York WFP in Connecticut, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Oregon, but there is as yet no national WFP...
lines) received strong support mainly from urban Syracuse and its surrounding suburbs. He likely benefited from John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
and Charles Schumer
Charles Schumer
Charles Ellis "Chuck" Schumer is the senior United States Senator from New York and a member of the Democratic Party. First elected in 1998, he defeated three-term Republican incumbent Al D'Amato by a margin of 55%–44%. He was easily re-elected in 2004 by a margin of 71%–24% and in 2010 by a...
topping the Democrat ticket; both won Syracuse by comfortable margins. Valesky achieved a 1,060-vote majority on election night, but this lead narrowed to 742 votes as paper and absentee ballots were counted. However, he did not lose the lead, and Hoffmann conceded two weeks later. Valesky received 53,050 votes (50,279 Democratic Party and 2,771 Working Families Party), Hoffmann received 52,308 votes (Republican Party), and Dadey received 13,234 votes (7,820 Independence Party and 5,414 Conservative Party), a margin of 44.73% to 44.11% to 11.16%.
2006
Valesky was re-elected to the state Senate in November 2006, defeating Assemblyman Jeffrey BrownJeffrey Brown (New York)
Jeffrey "Jeff" Brown is a former Republican state assemblyman in New York. He represented suburban areas around Syracuse.Brown was first elected to the Assembly in 2002, succeeding his father, former Assemblyman Harold Brown...
, the Republican candidate. Although Brown received significantly more funding, outspending Valesky nearly 2 to 1, and also was the son of a long-time Assemblyman in the Syracuse suburbs, Valesky prevailed with 53,555 votes (50,075 Democratic Party and 3,480 Working Families Party) over Brown's 36,875 votes (30,502 Republican Party, 3,717 Conservative Party, and 2,656 Independence Party), a margin of 59.22% to 40.78%. Democrats also picked up Brown's Assembly seat.
Valesky tied Brown to Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno
Joseph Bruno
Joseph L. Bruno is an American businessman, and Republican politician. He was the Temporary President of the New York State Senate and its majority leader. Most recently he also served as Lieutenant Governor of New York ....
, widely criticized in the media for promoting 'business as usual politics.' Bruno had made the seat a target of GOP efforts to maintain control of the State Senate (they still held onto the chamber despite Valesky's reelection). Valesky also cited the endorsement of Eliot Spitzer (who appeared in commercials for Valesky) and teachers' unions; Brown had argued that Valesky's votes favored giving New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
an excessive percentage of the state's expenditure on education.
Again, coattails at the top of the Democrat ticket likely helped, as Spitzer and Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the...
won landslide elections.
2008
Senator Valesky was reelected to a third term with 72,337 votes (67,536 Democratic Party and 4,801 Working Families Party) over James G. DiStefano with 39,819 votes (33,117 Republican Party, 3,889 Conservative Party, and 2,813 Independence Party), a margin of 64.50% to 35.50%.2010
David Valesky was again reelected in 2010. David Valesky received 43,935 votes compared to his opponent Andrew RussoAndrew Russo
Andrew C. Russo is an American pianist. Russo was born in Syracuse, New York, and studied music in New York City and Europe. He started a nonprofit youth educational foundation in New York at the age of 25 and recorded albums in the 2000s. In 2005, Russo became director of music at Le Moyne...
's 39,317 votes.
In the Senate
He took office as a state senator in January 2005. He is a former Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and a former Ranking Minority Member of the Environmental Conservation Committee.He is the Democratic Co-Chairman of the Special Committee on Rules and Administration. This committee was created to study Senate rules and make recommendations on rules changes.
Vice President Pro Tempore of the Senate
On January 8, 2009 Senate Majority Leader Malcolm SmithMalcolm Smith (US politician)
Malcolm A. Smith is an American politician. He is a Democratic member of the New York State Senate, elected in the 14th district which is located in Southeast Queens and includes Hollis, St. Albans, Cambria Heights, Queens Village, Rosedale and the entirety of the Rockaway Peninsula...
announced Valesky's appointment as Vice President Pro Tempore of the Senate. One of Smith's top deputies, Valesky will serve as an ex-officio member of all Senate committees and as Smith's top advisor on Upstate issues. Smith said the position's ex-officio status on all committees will Valesky to address Upstate issues in all committees. In addition he serves as presiding officer of the Senate in Smith's absence, placing him third in line for succession to Governor of New York
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
should Smith and David Paterson
David Paterson
David Alexander Paterson is an American politician who served as the 55th Governor of New York, from 2008 to 2010. During his tenure he was the first governor of New York of African American heritage and also the second legally blind governor of any U.S. state after Bob C. Riley, who was Acting...
both resign, die or become incapacitated. Smith also said Valesky will be included in all budget discussions. http://www.wktv.com/news/local/37278894.html Valesky's appointment makes him the highest ranking Upstater in New York State Government and, officially, the third-highest ranked in all of the state (although arguably, Sheldon Silver
Sheldon Silver
Sheldon "Shelly" Silver is an American lawyer and Democratic politician from New York. He has held the office of Speaker of the New York State Assembly since 1994.- Personal life :...
, speaker 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...
has more power).
Bills sponsored
Sponsor, S1452: To require the legislature to meet daily if it fails to pass the state budget prior to April 1 (2005)Sponsor, S1453: To require bills and resolutions to be open to sponsorship by any member of the legislature (2005)
Sponsor, S2206: Requires approval by the legislature to increase any fee, rental, charge or toll for the use of the thruway system or any part thereof. (2007)
Sponsor, S1155: Establishes apportionment commission to create apportionment plans for congressional and state legislative districts based on federal censuses; repealer. (2007)
Memo: "To establish an independent reapportionment commission to propose
district boundaries for Congress, State Senate and Assembly districts
every ten years following the U.S. Census."
Sponsor, S6426: Requires retail food stores to label certain foods with approximate miles traveled. (2007)
External links
- New York State Senate: David J. Valesky
- http://www.davevalesky.com David J. Valesky's Official Webpage
- Legislation sponsored by Senator Valesky