| Malcolm Smith | |
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Member of the New York Senate
from the 10th district |
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| In office 2000 – 2002 |
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| Preceded by | Alton R. Waldon, Jr. |
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| Succeeded by | Ada Smith |
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Member of the New York Senate
from the 14th district |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2003 |
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| Preceded by | George Onorato |
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Majority Leader of the New York State Senate
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| In office January 7, 2009 – June 8, 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Dean Skelos |
| Succeeded by | Dean Skelos |
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| In office January 7, 2009 – June 8, 2009 |
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| Governor | David Paterson |
| Preceded by | Dean Skelos |
| Succeeded by | Pedro Espada Jr. |
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Temporary President of the State Senate
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office July 9, 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Pedro Espada Jr. |
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| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Michele Lisby |
| Alma mater | Fordham University, Adelphi University |
Malcolm Smith is a member of the New York State Senate representing the 14th Senate district in Southeast Queens. Smith is the Temporary President of the New York State Senate and is the first African-American to hold that position. He was chosen Majority Leader and Temporary President in January 2009, but was removed from power on June 8 which triggered the 2009 New York State Senate leadership crisis. He returned to the temporary presidency on July 9 in an arrangement with Pedro Espada Jr. as Majority Leader, and John L. Sampson as Leader of the Democratic Caucus. Smith's district includes Hollis, St. Albans, Cambria Heights, Queens Village, Rosedale and the entirety of the Rockaway Peninsula.
First elected in 2000, Smith is a Democrat and was elected Minority Leader in January 2007. After the 2008 elections, where Democrats gained a majority of senate seats, he was poised to become New York's first African American Senate Majority Leader; however, three Democratic senators indicated that they would not vote for Smith due to his support for a bill legalizing same-sex marriage, leaving the outcome in dispute.[1] In early December, the leadership question seemed to have been resolved and Smith would become the Senate President pro tempore[2] and the third acting lieutenant governor (following Joe Bruno and Dean Skelos) since Governor David Paterson's ascension upon the resignation of Eliot Spitzer. However the deal collapsed a few days later due to Smith's refusal to "subject civil rights issues to negotiation."[3][4] However in the end all 32 Democrats voted for Smith on January 7.
He is a Roman Catholic and married. In 2006 he was sued for paternity by a former staffer.[5]
Contents |
See also
References
- ^ Hakim, Danny. "Paterson Calls for $5.2 Billion in Budget Savings". The New York Times| date=November 12, 2008.
- ^ Confessore, Nicholas (2008-12-04). "3 Senate Democrats End Holdout in Return for Power Sharing". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/05/nyregion/05senate.html. Retrieved 2008-12-07.
- ^ Virtanen, Michael (December 10, 2008). "Smith: Deal off with dissident NY Senate Democrats". Newsday. http://www.newsday.com/news/local/politics/ny-stsmith1212,0,3429896.story. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
- ^ Benjamin, Elizabeth (December 10, 2008). "Smith Back To Square One? (Updated)". New York Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2008/12/smith-back-to-square-one.html. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
- ^ Mahoney, Joe (February 24, 2006). "Qns. Senator slapped with paternity suit". New York Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/2006/02/24/2006-02-24_qns__senator_slapped_with_pa.html.
External links
| New York State Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Alton R. Waldon, Jr. |
New York State Senate, 10th District 2000–2002 |
Succeeded by Ada Smith |
| Preceded by George Onorato |
New York State Senate, 14th District 2003–present |
Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by David Paterson |
Minority Leader of the New York State Senate 2007 - 2008 |
Succeeded by Dean Skelos |
| Preceded by Dean Skelos |
Majority Leader of the New York State Senate 2009 |
Succeeded by 2009 New York State Senate leadership crisis[1] |
| Preceded by Dean Skelos Acting |
Lieutenant Governor of New York Acting 2009 |
Succeeded by Pedro Espada, Jr. Acting |
| Preceded by Pedro Espada Jr. |
Temporary President of the State Senate Acting 2009–present |
Incumbent |
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Note
- ^ Both Smith and Skelos claimed to be Majority Leader.
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