Steven McLaughlin

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Steven McLaughlin
County Executive of Rensselaer County
Assumed office
January 1, 2018
Preceded byKathleen M. Jimino
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 107th district
In office
January 1, 2011 – December 31, 2017
Preceded byTimothy Gordon
Succeeded byJacob Ashby
Personal details
Born (1963-10-04) October 4, 1963 (age 60)
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseDivorced
Children2
Alma materXaverian Brothers High School
Florida Institute of Technology
Arizona State University
Empire State College
University of Phoenix
WebsiteGovernment website

Steven Francis "Steve" McLaughlin (born October 4, 1963)[1] is an American politician serving as County Executive of Rensselaer County, New York. A Republican, McLaughlin represented the 107th District in the New York State Assembly from 2011 to 2017; the district included parts of Albany, Columbia, Greene and Rensselaer Counties in New York's Capital Region.[2] McLaughlin was elected Rensselaer County Executive in November 2017.

Early life and education

McLaughlin was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the third of four children of Arthur and Winifred McLaughlin. He was raised in Wrentham, Massachusetts, attending public elementary school and Xaverian Brothers High School.[3]

He attended the Florida Institute of Technology in 1983 and received commercial and instrument aircraft ratings. He then studied finance at Arizona State University. He earned a B.A. degree from Empire State College (State University of New York) and an M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix.[3]

Career

Before entering politics, McLaughlin was an airline pilot and a banker.[3]

McLaughlin was elected to the New York State Assembly on November 2, 2010, when he defeated incumbent Timothy P. Gordon.[4] McLaughlin had previously run against Gordon in 2008, but was defeated.[5] McLaughlin was re-elected to the Assembly in 2012, 2014, and 2016.[6][7]

McLaughlin was censured by the New York State Assembly Ethic Committee for violations of the Sexual Harassment Policy after he requested a female staff member send him nude photos.[8][9][10][11]

McLaughlin developed a reputation as an anti-establishment voice and an outspoken critic of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.[12] In 2013, McLaughlin criticized Cuomo's gun control policies and compared him to Adolf Hitler, Mussolini, and Putin. McLaughlin later apologized for making the comparison.[13]

McLaughlin ran for Rensselaer County Executive in 2017 following the retirement of longtime County Executive Kathy Jimino.[14] After defeating Deputy County Executive Christopher Meyer in a contentious Republican primary,[15] McLaughlin narrowly prevailed over Democrat Andrea Smyth in the general election.[16]

Mclaughlin was sworn in as Rensselaer County executive on January 1, 2018.[17]

In November 2019, leaked audio from a verbally abusive private meeting between McLaughlin, several of his top political and governmental aides, former Republican Congressman John Sweeney, and then-Republican candidate for Troy mayor Thomas Reale, was published by the Times Union.[18] During the meeting, McLaughlin, County Director of Operations Richard Christ, County Director of Purchasing James Gordon, and Sweeney pressured Reale to drop out of the mayoral race and endorse Rodney Wiltshire,[19] a third-party candidate defeated in the Democratic primary by incumbent Democratic Mayor Patrick Madden.[20] Mr. Reale remained in the race and was defeated by Madden in the general election.[21]

In November, 2019, McLaughlin was accused of withholding his signature from documents approving a property transfer between Rensselaer County and the city of Troy associated with the South Troy Industrial Park Road project.[22] McLaughlin later said the delay was the result of alleged unpaid bills between the two municipalities and a separate dispute over engineering services.[23]

On December 1, 2021, McLaughlin was indicted on two felony counts, including grand larceny in the third degree for misusing campaign funds to pay personal debts.[24]

On January 25, 2023, McLaughlin was acquitted of the felony counts by a jury after one hour of deliberations.[25]

In April 2023, several of McLaughlin’s top aides, including Christ and Gordon, were indicted by the FBI on federal criminal charges which alleged fraud and intimidation were used to obtain absentee ballots in the names of voters during the 2021 primary and general elections in Rensselaer County.[26]

Accomplishments as County Executive

As County Executive, McLaughlin identified a number of efficiencies in county government, reforming purchasing and personnel moves, generating a savings.[27]

Property taxes

For the 2019 budget, McLaughlin's first as Executive, county property taxes were lowered by a slight margin, less than one-percent. [citation needed] McLaughlin's next two budgets for 2020 and 2021 also lowered county property taxes.[citation needed] The county has also generated a significant savings during each year of McLaughlin's service as Executive.[citation needed] [27]

County roads

With over 320 miles of roads in Rensselaer County, the county typically paved on average about 20 miles annually.

COVID-19 response

Rensselaer County saw the first case of COVID-19 in March 2020.[citation needed] McLaughlin issued a State of Emergency similar to declarations issued by counties across the state. On March 25 of that year, Governor Andrew Cuomo's administration issued an Executive Order to force COVID-19 positive patients into nursing homes, including the county's Van Rensselaer Manor nursing home. [citation needed] McLaughlin was the only County Executive to refuse the order, stating "Not here, not now, not ever".[citation needed] The state had also issued a directive requiring any person entering a nursing home to show proof of a negative test. Despite the rule, state and federal inspectors attempted on multiple occasions to enter the county nursing home while refusing to show proof of a negative test. McLaughlin met the inspectors on two occasions and blocked them from entering. McLaughlin told WNYT: "I don't care if you're Donald Trump. I don't care if you're Andrew Cuomo. You're not coming through the door without proof of a negative test."[28]

Despite numerous requests from McLaughlin, the state did not set up a COVID-19 testing site in the county, forcing residents to travel distances for testing.[citation needed] McLaughlin received support from every mayor, supervisor and legislator in the county to establish an independent testing operation.[citation needed] The county test site represented the largest investment by a county in upstate in a testing operation.[citation needed] As vaccines became available, McLaughlin again worked to establish an independent county vaccination site, utilizing an athletic complex at Hudson Valley Community College, which is sponsored by the county. The county provided the first vaccine to the public at the HVCC site in January 2021. The public has praised the county vaccine operation for efficiency.[citation needed] To encourage vaccines during the summer months, McLaughlin devised an initiative for a mobile vaccination unit, teaming up with the Capital District Transportation Authority for the Vax Bus.[citation needed]

Improvement of county services

When seeking office in 2017, McLaughlin promised to construct a new emergency services training tower after the former one had been closed for several years. [citation needed]

Open government

Prior to McLaughlin's service, the county had limited social media outreach with the exception of an official Rensselaer County Facebook page. On taking office, McLaughlin implemented additional social media pages for county government, allowing for easier and more timely updates for residents.[citation needed] He has made extensive utilization of the county government social media pages for self-promotion. [citation needed] During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, McLaughlin also provided regular livestream updates, and was the only County Executive to take live questions from residents.[27]

Personal life

McLaughlin resides in North Greenbush.[2] He has two sons, Danny and Sean.[3] Sean was a contestant on the 20th season of ABC’s dating series The Bachelor.[29]

References

  1. ^ "Legislative Preview: Meet The New Members". The Capitol. Manhattan Media. January 6, 2011. Archived from the original on June 6, 2015. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Steven F. McLaughlin: Biography". New York State Assembly. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d "Election 2010 Profile: Steve McLaughlin". The Record. September 21, 2010. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  4. ^ https://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2010/general/2010AssemblyRecertified09122012.pdf 2010 Assembly Election Results, New York State Board of Elections
  5. ^ Danielle Sanzone (2010-11-03). "VIDEO: Steve McLaughlin wins in close race for the 108th State Assembly District". www.troyrecord.com.
  6. ^ "Assembly special elections too close to call | Hudson Valley 360". www.hudsonvalley360.com.
  7. ^ McLaughlin, Steven. "County Executive". stevemclaughlinforcountyexecutive.com.
  8. ^ Vilensky, Mike (29 November 2017). "New York Lawmaker Censured in Sexual-Harassment Case". Wall Street Journal.
  9. ^ Lyons, Brendan J.; Hamilton, Matthew (2017-11-29). "Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin sanctioned for sexual harassment". Times Union. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
  10. ^ "NY Ethics Committee: Steve McLaughlin violated sexual harassment policy". NEWS10 ABC. 2017-11-29. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
  11. ^ "Steve McLaughlin sanctioned following sexual harassment complaint". spectrumlocalnews.com. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
  12. ^ Churchill, Chris (November 2, 2017). "Churchill: Steve McLaughlin calls the 'fake news' Times Union 'a useless rag'". Times Union.
  13. ^ Kaplan, Thomas (5 February 2013). "Cuomo Acted Like Hitler in Gun Push, Official Says". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  14. ^ Buonanno, Nicholas (August 12, 2017). "Assemblyman looks to be next Rensselaer County Executive". Troy Record. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  15. ^ Crowe, Kenneth (September 18, 2017). "Meyer concedes Rensselaer County primaries to McLaughlin". Times Union. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  16. ^ Crowe, Kenneth (November 14, 2017). "Smyth concedes to McLaughlin in county executive's contest". Times Union. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  17. ^ "McLaughlin, assemblyman turns executive". WNYT NewsChannel 13. 2018-01-01. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  18. ^ "McLaughlin: I'm the 'boss' of Rensselaer County". Times Union.
  19. ^ "Mayoral candidates react to expletive-laced recording leaked". News10 ABC.
  20. ^ "Troy Mayor Patrick Madden Tops Wiltshire In Democratic Primary". WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
  21. ^ "Madden wins in Troy". Times Union.
  22. ^ Crowe, Kenneth (November 14, 2019). "Troy industrial road project stalls without McLaughlin's signature". Times Union.
  23. ^ Crowe, Kenneth (January 17, 2020). "Lack of apology, bus bill blamed for Troy road delay". Times Union.
  24. ^ Ferré-Sadurní, Luis (December 2021). "Cuomo Nemesis is Charged with Campaign Fraud". The New York Times.
  25. ^ https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/deliberations-expected-wednesday-steve-17740594.php
  26. ^ Lyons, Brendan (April 27, 2023). "Three more Rensselaer County officials charged with federal offenses". Times Union.
  27. ^ a b c McLaughlin, Steven. "County Executive". stevemclaughlinforcountyexecutive.com.
  28. ^ Propublica (16 June 2020). ""Fire Through Dry Grass"". www.propublica.org.
  29. ^ Stanforth, Lauren (March 30, 2023). "Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLauglin's son Sean a suitor on 'The Bachelorette'". Times Union.

External links

New York State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the New York Assembly
from the 107th district
2011–2017 		Succeeded by
Vacant
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