Quoted Text

Assembly GOP name new minority leader

By RICK KARLIN, Capitol bureau
First published in print: Tuesday, April 7, 2009

ALBANY — Assembly Republicans on Monday named a Finger Lakes lawmaker as their new leader, replacing congressional candidate Jim Tedisco of Schenectady.


Brian Kolb of Canandaigua said he would continue to highlight many of the same political ailments diagnosed by his predecessor: high taxes and the secrecy that surrounded Democratic leaders' budget negotiations. Illustrating those shortfalls, he added, may be the best strategy for a conference that is outnumbered by Democrats 109 to 41.

"We've just got to let people know a little bit more that we exist," said Kolb, who takes over after serving as Tedisco's pro tempore minority leader, the No. 2 position in the conference.

Tedisco, who is locked in a virtual dead heat with Democrat Scott Murphy for the 20th Congressional District seat, announced Friday that he was stepping aside to focus on the likely legal battle surrounding the absentee ballot count in that special election. But the Times Union also reported that Tedisco faced an insurrection by fellow Republicans who were angry that he spent too much time on the campaign trail during the last month, rather than focusing on the Assembly.

Tedisco is the second conference leader from the Capital Region to step down within the past 10 months. In June, former Senate Republican Majority Leader Joe Bruno from Brunswick said he was giving up that conference's top job and wasn't seeking re-election.

While badly outnumbered by Democrats, Tedisco managed to at least garner some publicity through his colorful quotes and occasionally histrionic style. In September 2007, for example, he said that terrorist Osama Bin Laden was probably "popping champagne" in response to then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer's failed plan to allow illegal aliens to get drivers licenses.

Kolb acknowledged that "there's only one Jim Tedisco," but pledged to do his best to keep the Republicans in the public eye. "I'm going to add what I believe is my passion for public service," he said.

Kolb faced competition for the leadership position early on, from Michael Fitzpatrick of Smithtown, Long Island, David Townsend, of Sylvan Beach, and Daniel Burling of Warsaw; they eventually stepped aside.

Kolb "is quick on his feet and he's strong-willed," said freshman GOP Assemblyman Tony Jordan, of Jackson, Washington County.

Jordan agreed that with just 41 seats, GOP assemblymembers are frequently serving as the loyal opposition, trying to hold the Democrats accountable for their decisions.

"When you debate a bill, it's like being a defense attorney in a criminal trial," said Jordan, a lawyer. The defendant may end up being convicted, he noted, but a good lawyer needs to make sure all the steps are followed.

Kolb will be keeping most of Tedisco's staff.

Rick Karlin can be reached at (51 454-5758 or rkarlin@timesunion.com.

Brian M. Kolb

Republican Brian M. Kolb, 56, represents the 56th Assembly District including Cayuga, Cortland, Onondaga, Ontario and Seneca counties.

Elected February 2000

Also an adjunct professor of Adult and Graduate Education at Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester.................http://timesunion.com/ASPStories/Story.asp?StoryID=787754&LinkFrom=RSS

he will be in prison with the other repub lawbreakers bush and chaney soon