Rockland Legislature swears in members, starts 2024 session
NEW CITY - The Rockland Legislature opened 2024 by welcoming seven new lawmakers - including the first Black female representative - and assigning leadership roles.
The Democrats hold a 12-5 majority on the governing body after picking up seats in the November elections. Their 12 votes, if they remain united, would allow them to override any vetoes on legislation or budgetary items by three-term Republican County Executive Ed Day.
In recent years, the legislators and Day administration have worked more harmoniously on financial matters, including adopting Day's 2024 property tax decrease budget after two years of no increases, and other issues compared to past years of rancor during hard economic times. The government overcame a $138 million deficit, with a $96 million bond paid off in 2024.
Reorganization: Legislature names leadership, 7 recently elected lawmakers take oath
Legislator Jay Hood, D-Haverstraw, took the reins as chair for the third consecutive year during the Legislature's annual reorganization meeting on Wednesday night at the chambers in the County Office Building. Legislator Lon Hofstein, R-Clarkstown, will again lead the Republicans as minority leader.
Hood reviewed 2023 and looked to 2024 as he thanked his colleagues for their support.
“We have worked hard as a body to find common ground when possible so that we can accomplish a shared vision.of goals," Hood said. "I am proud to say that these goals have included not only holding the line on taxes, but actually cutting them. I am hopeful we can continue the trend in 2024.”
The Democrats filled leadership posts, naming Aney Paul, D-Nanuet, as vice chair; Alden H. Wolfe, D-Montebello, as majority leader; Philip Soskin, D-Monsey, as second vice chair; Joel Friedman as deputy majority leader.
Hofstein and the Republicans named Doug Jobson of Stony Point as deputy minority leader.
The appointments and speeches came before a packed audience, as family and friends attended to witness seven newly elected legislators recite the oath. Each lawmaker was individually sworn-in by their choice of judges or elected officials.
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They were Paul Cleary, D-Garnerville; Raymond Sheridan, R-Pearl River; Beth Davidson, D-Nyack; Will Kennelly, R-Congers; Jesse Malowitz, D-Suffern, Thomas Diviny, R-Pearl River; and Dana Stilley, D-Piermont.
Stilley, a former South Orangetown School Board member, became the Legislature's first female Black lawmaker in the governing body during its five-decade history. Residents have elected several people of color dating back to the 1970s.
Legislators are paid $64,500 a year with benefits. Those chairing committees get extra.
“One of our seven new members, Legislator Dana Stilley, is the first African American woman to become a Rockland County legislator and that is something worth noting and worth celebrating," Hood said.
Returning legislators, including Itamar Yeger, D-New Hempstead, Toney Earl, D-Hillcrest, and Aron Wieder, D-Spring Valley, were sworn in by Rockland County Clerk Donna Silberman.
Laurence O. Toole, the Legislature clerk, was unanimously reappointed to a one-year term and Mary Widmer was named deputy clerk.
Hood also noted that as 2024 unfolds, county government is heading into a new reality.
“For the first time in a decade, we are no longer required to submit our budgets for state review andthat is because, following years of difficult and deliberate actions, we have turned the county’s fiscalship around,” he said. Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police, and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@lohud.com Twitter: @lohudlegal
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This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Rockland NY Legislature swears in new members, starts 2024 session
