John McEneny
Encyclopedia
John "Jack" McEneny is an American politician of the Democratic Party
, and is currently a member of the New York State Assembly
, representing about half of Albany County
in the 104th Assembly District.
, graduating with fellow future assemblyman Ronald Canestrari
. He graduated from Siena College
with a bachelor's degree in history, and attended New Mexico State University
and the Harvard University
's John F. Kennedy School of Government
. He served in the Peace Corps
in Colombia, South America, and worked as a social work
er and for the youth
program in Albany. Long-time Mayor Erastus Corning 2nd
appointed him to lead the Albany County
office of CETA
Job Corps
from 1971–1984. He directed the 1980 United States Census
for the Capital District
. McEneny was married for many years to his wife, Barbara Leonard, and is widow
ed; they have four children, John, Rachel, Daniel and Maeve and a granddaughter, Madeline Maeve.
McEneny's daughter Rachel married John Spencer, Jr., the son of Republican politician John Spencer
, the former mayor of Yonkers, New York
. Rachel was the Communications Director for Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand from 2006 through her appointment to the United States Senate in January 2009, she now serves as Senior Advisor for US Senator Gillibrand in Washington, DC.
McEneny's son John is an established playwright and Artistic Director of Piper Theatre Productions, a 10 year old Summer Stock Theatre Company based in Brooklyn, NY. It was co-founded with his sister Rachel.
In his first election in 1991, McEneny won a write-in campaign for County Legislature.
After serving as chief of staff
for state assemblyman Richard Conners for two years, Conners retired and McEneny ran for the position himself in 1992. He won a four-way primary for that seat in September 1992, and the general election that November. He was re-elected in 1994 and 1996.
In the 1997 primary, McEneny unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Mayor Gerald Jennings
for the Democratic nomination for Mayor of the City of Albany.
The following year, Jennings supported the race of Albany County Legislator Gary Domalewicz in a primary election
against McEneny. In September 1998, McEneny won with 75 % of the primary vote. He has easily won re-election since, in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006.
In 2006, McEneny beat Jennings, this time in an election for New York State Democratic Committee. He was re-elected for a ninth term in November 2008, and a tenth in 2010, soundly defeating a "Tea Party" challenger.
McEneny has been criticized for collecting a pension in addition to his pay for being an Assembly member, but he defended it as legal and fair, based on his age of 66.
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...
, and is currently 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...
, representing about half of Albany County
Albany County, New York
Albany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name is from the title of the Duke of York and Albany, who became James II of England . As of the 2010 census, the population was 304,204...
in the 104th Assembly District.
Background and early career
McEneny went to the Christian Brothers AcademyChristian Brothers Academy
Christian Brothers Academy is the name of schools run by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, including:* Christian Brothers Academy - Lincroft, New Jersey* Christian Brothers Academy...
, graduating with fellow future assemblyman Ronald Canestrari
Ronald Canestrari
Ronald J. "Ron" Canestrari is an American politician and a Democratic member of the New York State Assembly representing Assembly District 106, which includes parts of Albany, Rensselaer and Saratoga counties, sections of the cities of Albany and Troy, and all of the cities of Cohoes and...
. He graduated from Siena College
Siena College
Siena College is an independent Roman Catholic liberal arts college in Loudonville, in the town of Colonie, New York, United States. Siena is a four-year, coeducational, independent college in the Franciscan tradition, founded by the Franciscan Friars in 1937. It has 3,000 full-time students and...
with a bachelor's degree in history, and attended New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University at Las Cruces , is a major land-grant university in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States...
and the Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
's John F. Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
. He served in the Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
in Colombia, South America, and worked as a social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
er and for the youth
Youth
Youth is the time of life between childhood and adulthood . Definitions of the specific age range that constitutes youth vary. An individual's actual maturity may not correspond to their chronological age, as immature individuals could exist at all ages.-Usage:Around the world, the terms "youth",...
program in Albany. Long-time Mayor Erastus Corning 2nd
Erastus Corning 2nd
Erastus Corning 2nd was an American politician. He was Mayor of Albany, New York for more than 40 years, from 1942 to 1983, when Albany County was controlled by one of the last two classic urban political machines in the United States. Albany's longest serving mayor, the Democrat died in office in...
appointed him to lead the Albany County
Albany County, New York
Albany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name is from the title of the Duke of York and Albany, who became James II of England . As of the 2010 census, the population was 304,204...
office of CETA
Četa
Cheta was an armed band, organized by the Christian population on the territory of the Ottoman Empire, aiming at anti-Turkish activity. The cheta was usually led by a leader, called voivoda. The members of the chetas were called chetnik....
Job Corps
Job Corps
Job Corps is a program administered by the United States Department of Labor that offers free-of-charge education and vocational training to youth ages 16 to 24.-Mission and purpose:...
from 1971–1984. He directed the 1980 United States Census
United States Census
The United States Census is a decennial census mandated by the United States Constitution. The population is enumerated every 10 years and the results are used to allocate Congressional seats , electoral votes, and government program funding. The United States Census Bureau The United States Census...
for the Capital District
Capital District
New York's Capital District, also known as the Capital Region, is a region in upstate New York that generally refers to the four counties surrounding Albany, the capital of the state: Albany County, Schenectady County, Rensselaer County, and Saratoga County...
. McEneny was married for many years to his wife, Barbara Leonard, and is widow
Widow
A widow is a woman whose spouse has died, while a widower is a man whose spouse has died. The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed widowhood or occasionally viduity. The adjective form is widowed...
ed; they have four children, John, Rachel, Daniel and Maeve and a granddaughter, Madeline Maeve.
McEneny's daughter Rachel married John Spencer, Jr., the son of Republican politician John Spencer
John Spencer (politician)
John Spencer is the former Mayor of Yonkers, New York . He was the 2006 Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from New York and lost to incumbent Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton.-Early life, military service and education:...
, the former mayor of Yonkers, New York
Yonkers, New York
Yonkers is the fourth most populous city in the state of New York , and the most populous city in Westchester County, with a population of 195,976...
. Rachel was the Communications Director for Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand from 2006 through her appointment to the United States Senate in January 2009, she now serves as Senior Advisor for US Senator Gillibrand in Washington, DC.
McEneny's son John is an established playwright and Artistic Director of Piper Theatre Productions, a 10 year old Summer Stock Theatre Company based in Brooklyn, NY. It was co-founded with his sister Rachel.
Work as an historian
McEneny has a degree in history, worked for over a decade as Albany County Historian, and remains involved in issues of archiving historical documents. He is the author or co-author of several non-fiction books, including Albany: Capital City on the Hudson.Political career
McEneny served as the first director of the New York State "Urban Cultural Parks" program from 1985 to 1989. He was the Deputy County Executive to Albany County Executive Jim Coyne from 1989 to 1991.In his first election in 1991, McEneny won a write-in campaign for County Legislature.
After serving as chief of staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
for state assemblyman Richard Conners for two years, Conners retired and McEneny ran for the position himself in 1992. He won a four-way primary for that seat in September 1992, and the general election that November. He was re-elected in 1994 and 1996.
In the 1997 primary, McEneny unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Mayor Gerald Jennings
Gerald Jennings
Gerald David "Jerry" Jennings is the mayor of Albany, New York, United States. A Democrat, Jennings won a shocking upset in the 1993 mayoral primary over Harold Joyce, who had the Democratic Party’s formal endorsement and had only recently been its chairman. In 1993, he won the general election,...
for the Democratic nomination for Mayor of the City of Albany.
The following year, Jennings supported the race of Albany County Legislator Gary Domalewicz in a primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
against McEneny. In September 1998, McEneny won with 75 % of the primary vote. He has easily won re-election since, in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006.
In 2006, McEneny beat Jennings, this time in an election for New York State Democratic Committee. He was re-elected for a ninth term in November 2008, and a tenth in 2010, soundly defeating a "Tea Party" challenger.
McEneny has been criticized for collecting a pension in addition to his pay for being an Assembly member, but he defended it as legal and fair, based on his age of 66.
See also
- List of New York State Assembly Members 2005-2006
- New York State AssemblyNew York State AssemblyThe 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...
- List of members of the New York State Assembly