Brian Kolb

Brian Kolb
Minority Leader of the New York Assembly
Assumed office
April 6, 2009
Preceded by Jim Tedisco
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 131st district
Assumed office
February 17, 2000
Preceded by Craig Doran
Personal details
Born (1952-08-14) August 14, 1952
Rochester, New York, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Lauren Kolb
Children 3
Education Saint Petersburg College
Roberts Wesleyan College (BS, MS)

Brian M. Kolb (born August 14, 1952) is an American politician serving as the member of the New York State Assembly for the 131st district since 2000 and minority leader since 2009.[1] He was unanimously chosen as the State Assembly Republican Leader following the resignation of Jim Tedisco and is currently the longest-serving legislative leader in the both the New York Senate and State Assembly.[2][3] Kolb was first elected during a special election; the 131st district comprises all of Ontario County and portions of Seneca County in Upstate New York.[4]

Early life and career

Kolb was born in Rochester, New York. He received his Associate of Arts degree from Saint Petersburg Junior College in 1980. From 1986 to 1987, he was the Town Supervisor for the Town of Richmond, and therefore also on the Ontario County Board of Supervisors. In 1996, he received his B.S. from Roberts Wesleyan College, and he continued on to receive his M.S. in 1998. He became an adjunct professor at Roberts Wesleyan in 2000. He was co-founder of North American Filter Corp, as well as the Former President/COO of Refractron Technologies Corp.[3]

New York Assembly

Kolb was first elected in a February 2000 special election, and has been re-elected every two years since that time.

Kolb currently serves as Assembly Minority Leader, as Ranking Minority Member on the Committee on Rules, and as a member of several other standing committees.

A member of the National Rifle Association, Kolb appeared alongside the organization's controversial CEO, Wayne LaPierre, at a 2012 lobby day event in Albany.[2][5] Kolb is also a member of the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association. receiving an A+ grade from them in the past.[6][2]

In 2017, Kolb was the only one of New York's five state legislative leaders and six statewide elected officials to support a Yes vote on the State Constitutional Convention, which ultimately lost with only 16% of the vote.[7][8]

Kolb is unusual among New York legislators in that he does not employ interns.[9]

He is also a member of the member of the Advisory Board for the Ontario ARC, a member of the Sons of the American Legion, the Knights of Columbus and the American Irish Legislators Society.[2]

Awards

Higher office

Kolb had been named as a leading contender to challenge first-term Democrat Eric Massa (who eventually retired before seeking re-election) for the United States House of Representatives seat representing New York's 29th congressional district in 2010; however, he declined to seek the seat after becoming minority leader.[10] Though his potential candidacy was never taken seriously, he has also declined an opportunity to run against Kirsten Gillibrand for United States Senate, again declined to seek the 29th district seat even after Massa's resignation,[11] and also declined to run for Congress in 2012, this time against Democrat Kathy Hochul.[12]

On December 12, 2017, Kolb announced his intent to run for Governor of New York in 2018.[9]

Personal life

Kolb resides in Canandaigua, New York. He is remarried to Larry Kolb his life partner, and has three children: Britton, Clayton, and Kylie, from his first marriage. He is also the son, brother, father and uncle of veterans.

References

  1. ↑ "Brian Kolb Elected Leader of the New York State Assembly Minority Conference". assembly.state.ny.us. New York State Assembly. 2009-04-06. Retrieved June 5, 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Assemblyman Brian Kolb: 131st Assembly District". assembly.state.ny.us. New York Assembly. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Assembly Member Brian M. Kolb (NY)". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved June 4, 2009.
  4. ↑ "131st District Map". assembly.state.ny.us. New York Assembly. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  5. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Joshua. "NYS Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb Celebrates "Sportsmen's Day 2012," Defends Second Amendment Constitutional Freedoms Of All New Yorkers". Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb. Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb/New York State Assembly Minority. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  6. ↑ Spector, Joseph. "Rifle Association Moves Kolb to the Head of The Class". Albany Watch. USA Today. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  7. ↑ Reisman, Nick. "LAWMAKERS HAVE A LOT TO SAY ABOUT NY CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION PROPOSAL". Spectrum News. Spectrum News. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  8. ↑ Kolb, Brian. "Kolb: The case for a constitutional convention". Auburnpub. Auburnpub. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  9. 1 2 Lovett, Kenneth. First Republican formally announces plans to run for New York governor. New York Daily News. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  10. ↑ DeWitt, Karen (April 6, 2009). "Assembly GOP Names New Leader". publicbroadcasting.net/wxxi. WXXI Public Broadcasting Council. Retrieved June 5, 2009.
  11. ↑ "Republicans rethinking 29th District race"
  12. ↑ Bragg, Chris (March 7, 2012). Sen. Patrick Gallivan (And Other Big GOP Names) Eying Hochul’s Seat Archived March 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.. City & State. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
New York Assembly
Preceded by
Craig Doran		 Member of the New York Assembly
from the 129th district
2000–2012		 Succeeded by
William Magnarelli
Preceded by
Harry Bronson		 Member of the New York Assembly
from the 131st district
2013–present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Jim Tedisco		 Minority Leader of the New York Assembly
2009–present
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.