Ronald Canestrari
Encyclopedia
Ronald J. "Ron" Canestrari (born May 22, 1943) 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 Rensselaer
.
A native of Cohoes, Canestrari attended public schools in Cohoes and later graduated from Christian Brothers Academy
in Albany
. He earned a Bachelor of Science
degree from Fordham College
in 1965, followed by a Juris Doctor
degree from Fordham University School of Law
in 1968. He was an enlisted member of the United States Army
from 1969 to 1971, and worked as an attorney for the federal government
and the Army.
Canestrari served as mayor
of Cohoes from 1976 until 1989. During his tenure as mayor, he was an active member of the New York State Conference of Mayors and served as the organization's president.
He has been an Assemblyman since 1989. Canestrari has served as the Chairman of the Higher Education
Committee as well as a member of standing committees on Banks, Labor, Local Governments, Rules, and Ways and Means. In 2007, he became Majority Leader
of the State Assembly. He ran uncontested in the 2008 and 2010 general election
s.
While long opposed to gay marriage, Canestrari revised his position in 2007 and now supports legalizing it in New York.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and a Democratic
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...
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 Assembly District 106, which includes parts of Albany
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...
, Rensselaer and Saratoga counties, sections of the cities of Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
and Troy
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
, and all of the cities of Cohoes
Cohoes, New York
Cohoes is an incorporated city located at the northeast corner of Albany County in the US state of New York. It is called the "Spindle City" because of the importance of textile production to its growth. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 16,168...
and Rensselaer
Rensselaer, New York
Rensselaer is a city in Rensselaer County, New York, United States, and is located on the Hudson River directly opposite Albany. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,392; in 1920, it was 10,832. The name is from Kiliaen van Rensselaer, the original landowner of the region in New...
.
A native of Cohoes, Canestrari attended public schools in Cohoes and later graduated from Christian Brothers Academy
Christian Brothers Academy (Albany, New York)
Christian Brothers Academy is a Catholic college preparatory junior and senior high school for boys founded in 1859 by the De La Salle Christian Brothers . Located within the Colonie School District and the school is located in the town of Colonie, New York near the Albany International Airport on...
in Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
. He earned a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree from Fordham College
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
in 1965, followed by a Juris Doctor
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...
degree from Fordham University School of Law
Fordham University School of Law
Fordham University School of Law is a part of Fordham University in the United States. The School is located in the Borough of Manhattan in New York City, and is one of eight ABA-approved law schools in that city.-Overview:According to the U.S. News & World Report, 1,516 J.D. students attend...
in 1968. He was an enlisted member of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1969 to 1971, and worked as an attorney for the federal government
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
and the Army.
Canestrari served as mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Cohoes from 1976 until 1989. During his tenure as mayor, he was an active member of the New York State Conference of Mayors and served as the organization's president.
He has been an Assemblyman since 1989. Canestrari has served as the Chairman of the Higher Education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
Committee as well as a member of standing committees on Banks, Labor, Local Governments, Rules, and Ways and Means. In 2007, he became Majority Leader
Majority leader
In U.S. politics, the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.In the federal Congress, the role differs slightly in the two houses. In the House of Representatives, which chooses its own presiding officer, the leader of the majority party is elected the Speaker of the...
of the State Assembly. He ran uncontested in the 2008 and 2010 general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
s.
While long opposed to gay marriage, Canestrari revised his position in 2007 and now supports legalizing it in New York.