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Darrel Aubertine | |
|---|---|
| Member of theNew York Senate from the48th district | |
| In office February 2008 – December 2010 | |
| Preceded by | James W. Wright |
| Succeeded by | Patty Ritchie |
| Member of theNew York State Assembly from the118th district | |
| In office 2003–2008 | |
| Preceded by | William Sanford |
| Succeeded by | Addie Jenne Russell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1953-06-03)June 3, 1953 (age 72) Cape Vincent, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Margaret |
| Children | 3 |
| Profession | Farmer, politician |
Darrel J. Aubertine (born June 3, 1953) is an American politician and farmer from the State of New York. A Democrat, Aubertine served as Commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets from April 2011 to October 2013. He previously representedNew York's 48th State Senate district from February 2008 to December 2010 and representedNew York's 118th State Assembly district from 2003 to 2008. Aubertine has also held public office at the local level.
Aubertine was born inCape Vincent, New York, on June 3, 1953. He and his wife Margaret were married in 1977. They have three children: Erin, Paul, and Timothy.[1] He is a farmer.[2]
Aubertine served on theCape Vincent town council from 1994 to 1996. In 1996, he was elected to theJefferson County legislature, where he served until 2002. In 2002, he was elected to theNew York State Assembly representing the 118th district. He served in the Assembly from 2003 to 2008. The owner and operator of his farm in Cape Vincent, Aubertine gave up milking cows when he joined the Assembly, but remained an active crop and livestock farmer.[citation needed]
On February 26, 2008, Aubertine won an upset victory overWilliam A. Barclay in a special election in the 48th district of theNew York State Senate. Aubertine succeeded RepublicanJames W. Wright, who retired from the Senate.[3] Barclay's family's ownership of a stretch of theSalmon River became a campaign issue, as the family had charged local fishermen and anglers $30 for access that had previously been free.[4] Aubertine carried significant crossover appeal among Republicans and independents, enabling him to win election[according to whom?] in the most Republican district in the State Senate.[5] Aubertine's victory brought the New York State Democrats within one vote of controlling theNew York State Senate—and, thus, to controlling all three levels of state power (Democratic Gov.Eliot Spitzer was in office, and Democrats already controlled the State Assembly)---for the first time since 1935.[citation needed]
Soon after being elected in February 2008, Aubertine was successful in securing $250 million for improvements at State University of New York campuses in Oswego and Canton.[6]
On June 22, 2008, theWatertown Daily Times cited unnamed sources in reporting that Gov. David Paterson's office had offered Aubertine a job heading the New York Power Authority. Later that day, the Senator confirmed that he had declined the offer. Two days later, the governor said that there had been a misunderstanding, though sources told theTimes Union in Albany that the senator's version of the situation was accurate.[7][8]
During his November 2008 Senate campaign, Aubertine was criticized for hiring his sister to his staff in violation of State ethics law, though he corrected the problem when notified of the conflict after just a few weeks on the job and later paid back the money she received.[citation needed]
On November 4, 2008, Aubertine defeatedWatertown attorney David A. Renzi with 53% of the vote (52,908 to 46,941) to win re-election to a full term.[9] In November, Aubertine's re-election along with the addition of two new Democratic Senators cleared the way for SenatorMalcolm Smith to be named Majority Leader on January 8, 2009.[citation needed]
Aubertine was named chairman of the Senate's Agriculture Committee on January 7, 2009, replacing RepublicanCatharine Young. He was an anomaly in that he was a man chairing a committee traditionally led by women (Young,Patricia McGee, andNancy Larraine Hoffmann before andPatty Ritchie after).[citation needed]
Aubertine was mentioned as a leading candidate[10] to run for the House seat representingNew York's 23rd congressional district, formerly held by RepublicanJohn M. McHugh, in 2009. He declined to run for Congress.[11]
On December 2, 2009, Aubertine was one of eight Democratic state senators to vote againstsame-sex marriage legislation, which failed to pass the Senate.[12]
Aubertine was defeated for re-election by RepublicanSt. Lawrence County ClerkPatty Ritchie in November 2010.[2][13]
GovernorAndrew Cuomo nominated Aubertine as Commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets on January 6, 2011.[citation needed] Aubertine was unanimously confirmed by the State Senate on April 5, 2011.[citation needed] Aubertine resigned the position in October 2013.[2]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)| New York State Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by William E. Sanford | Member from the118th Assembly district 2003–2008 | Succeeded by |
| New York State Senate | ||
| Preceded by | Member from the48th Senate district 2008–2010 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture 2009–2010 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Telecommunications May 2009 – December 2009 | Succeeded by |