Vincent L. Leibell

Vincent Leibell

New York State Senator Vincent L. Leibell III was born in New York City on August 6, 1946. He was first elected to the New York State Senate in 1994 when he defeated former New York State Lieutenant Governor Alfred DelBello. Previously, he had worked as an Assistant District Attorney in the Westchester County District Attorney's office and served six terms in the state Assembly, where he had risen to the position of Assistant Minority Leader pro tempore. He is a member of the Republican party and represents New York's 40th District which includes Putnam County and parts of Southern Dutchess and Northern Westchester Counties.

As Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Corporations, Commissions and Authorities, Senator Leibell authored the Public Authorities Reform Act of 2005 to tighten up control and oversight measures of New York State's public authorities. Following passage of the bill, legislators on both sides of the aisle commended Senator Leibell and his staff for one of the largest authorities reform bills in the history of the chamber.

In May 2005, Senator Leibell introduced a bill that would have legalized the use of medicinal cannabis in New York under certain circumstances, mainly for those seriously ill and without alternative sources of relief.

In 2002, Senator Leibell voted against the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act (SONDA), which prohibited discrimination due to sexual orientation in employment and education. Despite Senator Leibell's vote, SONDA passed the Senate on a 34-26 vote and became law in New York.

Senator Leibell is part of a Republican majority in the Senate which has held power without interruption since 1965. A widely-publicized report in 2004 from the Brennan Center for Justice of New York University describes the dysfunction of the New York State Legislature.

New York State Senators serve 2-year terms, and Senator Vincent Leibell was reelected in the 2006 elections. He defeated Westchester County Legislator Mike Kaplowitz (D-Somers), Chairman of the Board of Legislators' Budget and Appropriations committee.