Top Senator in New York Won’t Seek Re-election

Tag : Pork Collar

His announcement startled people in the Capitol, many of whom havecome to view Mr. Bruno, a former Army regimental boxing championwho still spars for the cameras, as almost indestructible at theage of 79.
The news came three months after Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned following reports that he had been a client of aprostitution ring. Mr. Bruno and Mr. Spitzer, a Democrat, werebitter adversaries, and their personal and political battles haddefined Albany through much of last year.
“I didn’t see it coming,” Sheldon Silver , the Assembly speaker, said Monday night after Mr. Brunotelephoned him with the news. He added: “The senatorcertainly is a piece of Albany. An era ends with Joe Brunoleaving.”
Mr. Bruno gathered his Republican colleagues in the Senate behindclosed doors to tell them the news, but did not explain why he wasleaving now.
His decision did not appear to be related to a federalinvestigation of his outside business interests, according topeople with knowledge of the investigation.
But there was little doubt that Mr. Bruno had grown fatigued inrecent months, worn down by the two-year investigation, theincreasing stress over whether his party could hold on to itsone-seat majority in the Senate, and the death in January of hiswife of 57 years, Bobbie.
“After 32 years in office, I have decided that it is time tomove on with my life and to give my constituents an opportunity fornew representation and my colleagues in the Senate who havesupported me an opportunity for new leadership,” Mr. Brunosaid in a statement. He added: “Politics is a tough ballgame.Tougher now than it has ever been.”
Startled Republicans immediately turned their attention to whowould replace Mr. Bruno, and it was not clear if he would step downfrom his leadership post before the election.
Mr. Bruno’s office announced his plan to step down even asthe majority leader was holding an extended private meeting withthe two Republicans who have long vied to be his heir apparent— Senator Dean G. Skelos of Long Island and Senator Tom Libousof Binghamton — in an attempt to avoid an internal struggle.Insiders expected Mr. Skelos to prevail.
As the meeting stretched on, interrupted by a visit from Gov. David A. Paterson , the other Republican senators left a conference room through aside door, still absorbing the turn of events.
“I need a drink,” one cracked.
The news will be a major political blow to the Albany area, whichhas benefited from Mr. Bruno’s ability to shower the regionwith pork. He represents Rensselaer County and most of SaratogaCounty.
Marylou Whitney , the philanthropist and grande dame of Saratoga horse racing,called him “better for this state and for Saratoga thananyone,” before breaking down during a telephone interview onan Albany television station.
“He’s 79 years of age, he served the state well and hewanted to step down and enjoy some of his years,” saidSenator Martin J. Golden , a Brooklyn Republican who has served for years with Mr. Bruno.“Everybody’s shocked.”
Senator Frank Padavan , a Queens Republican, said that Mr. Bruno’s timing wasdictated by the broader political situation, including the desireto see a Republican candidate succeed him in his Senate districtand the need for a quick succession so Senate Republicans couldenter the fall elections unified and energized.
“He feels that he wants to retire,” Mr. Padavan said.“If he wants to retire, he needs to give someone theopportunity to follow him,” the senator added, citing a setof July deadlines set by the State Board of Elections for localparties to designate nominees for office.
“He also wants an orderly transition” in the Senate,Mr. Padavan said. “I think it will be smooth and quick —maybe even tomorrow.”
A key question for Senate Republicans will be whether several otherolder members will stay on. Mr. Bruno had persuaded them to standfor re-election in recent years and it was not clear if, given hisdeparture, other senior senators in their late 70s and 80s wouldfollow.
“His resignation, I think, will have an effect on theirability to hold on to their majority,” said AssemblymanMichael Benjamin, a Democrat from the South Bronx. “He wasthe center. And when the center falls, everything fallsapart.”
The state Democratic Party appeared gleeful about the news.
“We’ll be curious to see who else decides to join himin the retired legislators section at the SaratogaRacetrack,” said June O’Neill, the chairwoman of thestate Democratic Party. Mr. Bruno, a horse breeder, appears oftenat the Saratoga track during racing season.
After the Senate Republicans lost a key special election inFebruary, Mr. Bruno faced criticism that he had failed to employ anaggressive strategy in the race.
Still, despite Mr. Bruno’s recent difficulties, hisrelationship with the governor, with whom he served in the Senate,has been a warm one, and Mr. Bruno seemed genuinely relieved inrecent weeks that the relentless tension and name-calling thatdefined his relationship with Mr. Spitzer had ended.
“I’ve always found him to be forthright, direct,engaging, an appealing personality,” Mr. Paterson said onMonday evening. “And I think that this is in some ways a sadday for Albany and for me, who liked to feel that I had afriendship with him outside of government.”
Mr. Bruno often spoke of his modest roots. He grew up in a six-roomcold-water flat in the blue-collar town of Glens Falls, about 200miles north of New York City. His immigrant father worked at thelocal paper mill and his mother died when he was a teenager. Hebecame a boxer, first to ward off bullies, then competitively.
He attended college, then served in Korea. He became a millionaireafter founding and then selling the Coradian Corporation, a companythat sold telephone systems to private businesses and governmentagencies.