Roy McDonald (politician)
Encyclopedia
Roy J. McDonald is a Republican
politician
and member of the New York State Senate
, representing the 43rd district (all of Rensselaer
and part of Saratoga
Counties). Before being elected to the Senate on November 4, 2008, he had served in the New York State Assembly
since 2002, representing the 112th District. For 23 years, he was Town and County Supervisor for the Town of Wilton, New York
and in 1986, served a term as Chairman of the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors.
McDonald grew up in Lansingburgh, New York
and attended public schools. He earned his Associate's degree from Hudson Valley Community College
in Troy, New York
and moved on to State University of New York at Oneonta
, where he earned his Master's Degree. A veteran, McDonald served as part of the US Army
's 1st Cavalry Division in the Vietnam War
. Roy and his wife, Angelina Zaccagnino-McDonald, are the parents of three daughters. His two grandsons have autism
, and McDonald has been a leader regarding autism awareness, creating the Saratoga County Autism Council and sponsoring legislation.
. In response to the pressure he was receiving from other Republicans to vote against the measure he is quoted as saying:
When same-sex marriage legislation was passed by the Senate on June 24, 2011, Senator McDonald voted "yes." McDonald had previously voted "no" on same-sex marriage legislation in 2009.
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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and member of the New York State Senate
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 43rd district (all of Rensselaer
Rensselaer County, New York
Rensselaer County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 159,429. Its name is in honor of the family of Kiliaen van Rensselaer, the original Dutch owner of the land in the area. Its county seat is Troy...
and part of Saratoga
Saratoga County, New York
Saratoga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 219,607. It is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county seat is Ballston Spa...
Counties). Before being elected to the Senate on November 4, 2008, he had served in 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...
since 2002, representing the 112th District. For 23 years, he was Town and County Supervisor for the Town of Wilton, New York
Wilton, New York
Wilton is a town in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 12,511 at the 2000 census.The Town of Wilton is in the northeastern part of the county, northeast of Saratoga Springs, which it borders.-History:...
and in 1986, served a term as Chairman of the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors.
McDonald grew up in Lansingburgh, New York
Lansingburgh, New York
Lansingburgh was the first chartered village in Rensselaer County, New York, USA and was settled around 1763. The name is from Abraham Lansing, an early settler, combined with the Scottish word burgh....
and attended public schools. He earned his Associate's degree from Hudson Valley Community College
Hudson Valley Community College
Hudson Valley Community College, a SUNY associated two-year college, is located in Troy in Rensselaer County, New York. Although about eighty percent of the students are from the local area, the remainder are from other parts of New York, other states and from some 30 countries around the...
in Troy, New York
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 moved on to State University of New York at Oneonta
State University of New York at Oneonta
The State University of New York College at Oneonta is a four-year liberal arts college in Oneonta, New York, United States, with approximately 5,800 students. The College offers many bachelor's degrees and a number of graduate degrees...
, where he earned his Master's Degree. A veteran, McDonald served as part of the US 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...
's 1st Cavalry Division in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. Roy and his wife, Angelina Zaccagnino-McDonald, are the parents of three daughters. His two grandsons have autism
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
, and McDonald has been a leader regarding autism awareness, creating the Saratoga County Autism Council and sponsoring legislation.
2011 same-sex marriage vote
On June 16, 2011, McDonald spoke to the press on his intended support for New York State's upcoming vote on same-sex marriageSame-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
. In response to the pressure he was receiving from other Republicans to vote against the measure he is quoted as saying:
You get to the point where you evolve in your life where everything isn't black and white, good and bad, and you try to do the right thing. You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, fuck it, I don't care what you think. I'm trying to do the right thing. I'm tired of Republican-Democrat politics. They can take the job and shove it. I come from a blue-collar background. I'm trying to do the right thing, and that's where I'm going with this.
When same-sex marriage legislation was passed by the Senate on June 24, 2011, Senator McDonald voted "yes." McDonald had previously voted "no" on same-sex marriage legislation in 2009.