Steven Francis "Steve" McLaughlin (born October 4, 1963)[1] is an American politician serving as County Executive of Rensselaer County, New York. A Republican, McLaughlin represented the 107th District in the New York State Assembly from 2011 to 2017; the district included parts of Albany, Columbia, Greene and Rensselaer Counties in New York's Capital Region.[2] McLaughlin was elected Rensselaer County Executive in November 2017.
Steven McLaughlin | |
|---|---|
| County Executive of Rensselaer County | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Kathleen M. Jimino |
| Member of the New York State Assembly from the 107th district | |
| In office January 1, 2011 – December 31, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Timothy Gordon |
| Succeeded by | Jacob Ashby |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 4, 1963 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Divorced |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Xaverian Brothers High School Florida Institute of Technology Arizona State University Empire State College University of Phoenix |
| Website | Government website |
Early life and education
editMcLaughlin was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the third of four children of Arthur and Winifred McLaughlin. He was raised in Wrentham, Massachusetts, attending public elementary school and Xaverian Brothers High School.[3]
He attended the Florida Institute of Technology in 1983 and received commercial and instrument aircraft ratings. He then studied finance at Arizona State University. He earned a B.A. degree from Empire State College (State University of New York) and an M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix.[3]
Career
editBefore entering politics, McLaughlin was an airline pilot and a banker.[3]
McLaughlin was elected to the New York State Assembly on November 2, 2010, when he defeated incumbent Timothy P. Gordon.[4] McLaughlin had previously run against Gordon in 2008, but was defeated.[5] McLaughlin was re-elected to the Assembly in 2012, 2014, and 2016.[6][7]
McLaughlin was censured by the New York State Assembly Ethic Committee for violations of the Sexual Harassment Policy after he requested a female staff member send him nude photos.[8][9][10][11]
McLaughlin developed a reputation as an anti-establishment voice and an outspoken critic of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.[12] In 2013, McLaughlin criticized Cuomo's gun control policies and compared him to Adolf Hitler, Mussolini, and Putin. McLaughlin later apologized for making the comparison.[13]
McLaughlin ran for Rensselaer County Executive in 2017 following the retirement of longtime County Executive Kathy Jimino.[14] After defeating Deputy County Executive Christopher Meyer in a contentious Republican primary,[15] McLaughlin narrowly prevailed over Democrat Andrea Smyth in the general election.[16]
Mclaughlin was sworn in as Rensselaer County executive on January 1, 2018.[17]
In November 2019, leaked audio from a verbally abusive private meeting between McLaughlin, several of his top political and governmental aides, former Republican Congressman John Sweeney, and then-Republican candidate for Troy mayor Thomas Reale, was published by the Times Union.[18] During the meeting, McLaughlin, County Director of Operations Richard Christ, County Director of Purchasing James Gordon, and Sweeney pressured Reale to drop out of the mayoral race and endorse Rodney Wiltshire,[19] a third-party candidate defeated in the Democratic primary by incumbent Democratic Mayor Patrick Madden.[20] Mr. Reale remained in the race and was defeated by Madden in the general election.[21]
In November, 2019, McLaughlin was accused of withholding his signature from documents approving a property transfer between Rensselaer County and the city of Troy associated with the South Troy Industrial Park Road project.[22] McLaughlin later said the delay was the result of alleged unpaid bills between the two municipalities and a separate dispute over engineering services.[23]
On December 1, 2021, McLaughlin was indicted on two felony counts, including grand larceny in the third degree for misusing campaign funds to pay personal debts.[24]
On January 25, 2023, McLaughlin was acquitted of the felony counts by a jury after one hour of deliberations.[25]
In April 2023, several of McLaughlin’s top aides, including Christ and Gordon, were indicted by the FBI on federal criminal charges which alleged fraud and intimidation were used to obtain absentee ballots in the names of voters during the 2021 primary and general elections in Rensselaer County.[26]
Accomplishments as County Executive
editAs County Executive, McLaughlin identified a number of efficiencies in county government, reforming purchasing and personnel moves, generating a savings.[27]
County roads
editWith over 320 miles of roads in Rensselaer County, the county typically paved on average about 20 miles annually.
Personal life
editMcLaughlin resides in North Greenbush.[2] He has two sons, Danny and Sean.[3] Sean was a contestant on the 20th season of ABC’s dating series The Bachelor.[28]
References
edit- ^ "Legislative Preview: Meet The New Members". The Capitol. Manhattan Media. January 6, 2011. Archived from the original on June 6, 2015. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
- ^ a b "Steven F. McLaughlin: Biography". New York State Assembly. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
- ^ a b c d "Election 2010 Profile: Steve McLaughlin". The Record. September 21, 2010. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
- ^ https://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2010/general/2010AssemblyRecertified09122012.pdf 2010 Assembly Election Results, New York State Board of Elections
- ^ Danielle Sanzone (2010-11-03). "VIDEO: Steve McLaughlin wins in close race for the 108th State Assembly District". www.troyrecord.com.
- ^ "Assembly special elections too close to call | Hudson Valley 360". www.hudsonvalley360.com.
- ^ McLaughlin, Steven. "County Executive". stevemclaughlinforcountyexecutive.com.
- ^ Vilensky, Mike (29 November 2017). "New York Lawmaker Censured in Sexual-Harassment Case". Wall Street Journal.
- ^ Lyons, Brendan J.; Hamilton, Matthew (2017-11-29). "Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin sanctioned for sexual harassment". Times Union. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
- ^ "NY Ethics Committee: Steve McLaughlin violated sexual harassment policy". NEWS10 ABC. 2017-11-29. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
- ^ "Steve McLaughlin sanctioned following sexual harassment complaint". spectrumlocalnews.com. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
- ^ Churchill, Chris (November 2, 2017). "Churchill: Steve McLaughlin calls the 'fake news' Times Union 'a useless rag'". Times Union.
- ^ Kaplan, Thomas (5 February 2013). "Cuomo Acted Like Hitler in Gun Push, Official Says". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
- ^ Buonanno, Nicholas (August 12, 2017). "Assemblyman looks to be next Rensselaer County Executive". Troy Record. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
- ^ Crowe, Kenneth (September 18, 2017). "Meyer concedes Rensselaer County primaries to McLaughlin". Times Union. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
- ^ Crowe, Kenneth (November 14, 2017). "Smyth concedes to McLaughlin in county executive's contest". Times Union. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
- ^ "McLaughlin, assemblyman turns executive". WNYT NewsChannel 13. 2018-01-01. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
- ^ "McLaughlin: I'm the 'boss' of Rensselaer County". Times Union.
- ^ "Mayoral candidates react to expletive-laced recording leaked". News10 ABC.
- ^ "Troy Mayor Patrick Madden Tops Wiltshire In Democratic Primary". WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
- ^ "Madden wins in Troy". Times Union.
- ^ Crowe, Kenneth (November 14, 2019). "Troy industrial road project stalls without McLaughlin's signature". Times Union.
- ^ Crowe, Kenneth (January 17, 2020). "Lack of apology, bus bill blamed for Troy road delay". Times Union.
- ^ Ferré-Sadurní, Luis (December 2021). "Cuomo Nemesis is Charged with Campaign Fraud". The New York Times.
- ^ https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/deliberations-expected-wednesday-steve-17740594.php
- ^ Lyons, Brendan (April 27, 2023). "Three more Rensselaer County officials charged with federal offenses". Times Union.
- ^ McLaughlin, Steven. "County Executive". stevemclaughlinforcountyexecutive.com.
- ^ Stanforth, Lauren (March 30, 2023). "Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLauglin's son Sean a suitor on 'The Bachelorette'". Times Union.