The 173rd New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 4, 1961, to March 31, 1962, during the third and fourth years of Nelson Rockefeller's governorship, in Albany.

Background Under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1938, re-apportioned in 1953, 58 Senators and 150 assemblymen were elected in single-seat districts for two-year terms. The senatorial districts consisted either of one or more entire counties; or a contiguous area within a single county. The counties which were divided into more than one senatorial district were Kings (nine districts), New York (six), Queens (five), Bronx (four), Erie (three), Nassau (three), Westchester (three), Monroe (two) and Onondaga (two). The Assembly districts consisted either of a single entire county (except Hamilton Co.), or of contiguous area within one county.

At this time there were two major political parties: the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. The Liberal Party also nominated tickets.

Elections The 1960 New York state election was held on November 8. The only two statewide elective offices were two seats on the New York Court of Appeals. Two Republican judges were elected, Stanley H. Fuld with Democratic and Liberal endorsement; and Sydney F. Foster with Liberal endorsement. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the average vote for the judges on the different tickets, was: Republicans 3,281,000; Democrats 3,247,000; and Liberals 413,000.

4 of the 7 women members of the previous legislature—State Senator Janet Hill Gordon (Republican), a lawyer of Norwich; and Assemblywomen Bessie A. Buchanan (Democrat), a retired musical actress and dancer of Harlem; Dorothy Bell Lawrence (Republican), a former school teacher of Manhattan; and Aileen B. Ryan (Democrat), a former school teacher of the Bronx—were re-elected.

The 1961 New York state election was held on November 7. No statewide elective offices were up for election. Three vacancies in the Assembly were filled.

Sessions The Legislature met for the first regular session (the 184th) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 4, 1961;Carlino Picks Ingalls and Preller For Key Posts in the Assembly in The New York Times on January 5, 1961 (subscription required) and adjourned on March 25.G.O.P. Leaders Assailed on Loss of City Bills in "Dismal" Finish in The New York Times on March 27, 1961 (subscription required)

Joseph F. Carlino (Rep.) was re-elected Speaker.

Walter J. Mahoney (Rep.) was re-elected Temporary President of the State Senate.

The Legislature met for a special session at the State Capitol in Albany on August 21, 1961;SPECIAL SESSION SET FOR AUG. 21 ON SCHOOL ISSUE in The New York Times on August 14, 1961 (subscription required) and adjourned after a session of six hours.REFORM ORDERED; LEGISLATURE ACTS ON CITY'S SCHOOLS in The New York Times on August 22, 1961 (subscription required) This session was called to consider legislation concerning New York City's school system.

The Legislature met for another special session at the State Capitol in Albany on November 9, 1961;ALBANY SESSION SET ON SHELTERS AND DISTRICTING in The New York Times on October 22, 1961 (subscription required) and adjourned on the next day.VOTING IS CLOSE; City House Delegation Cut by Three in The New York Times on November 11, 1961 (subscription required) This session was called to consider legislation concerning the creation of fallout shelters at schools and colleges, and the re-apportionment of New York's congressional districts under the 1960 U.S. census.

The Legislature met for the second regular session (the 185th) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 3, 1962;3 NEW ASSEMBLYMEN; 2 Republicans and a Democrat Take Seats at Albany in The New York Times on January 4, 1962 (subscription required) and adjourned on March 31.CARLINO CHARGES WAGNER OFFERED "DEAL" ON JUDGES in The New York Times on April 2, 1962 (subscription required)

State Senate

Districts

Senators The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Ivan Warner changed from the Assembly to the Senate at the beginning of this Legislature.

Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on (the)..."

District Senator Party Notes1stElisha T. Barrett* Republican2ndDaniel G. Albert* Republicanon November 6, 1962, elected to the New York Supreme Court3rdHenry M. Curran Republican4thEdward J. Speno* Republican5thJack E. Bronston* Democrat6thIrving Mosberg* Democrat7thSeymour R. Thaler* Democrat8thThomas A. Duffy* Democrat9thThomas J. Mackell* Democrat10thSimon J. Liebowitz* Democrat11thWalter E. Cooke* Democrat12thJeremiah B. Bloom* Democrat13thFrank Composto* Democraton November 6, 1962, elected to the New York City Civil Court14thWilliam T. Conklin* Republican15thFrank J. Pino* Democrat16thWilliam Rosenblatt* Democrat17thSamuel L. Greenberg* Democrat18thHarry Gittleson* Democraton November 6, 1962, elected to the New York City Civil Court19thJohn J. Marchi* Republican20thMacNeil Mitchell* Republican21stJames Lopez Watson* Democrat22ndJohn P. Morrissey* Democrat23rdJoseph Zaretzki* DemocratMinority Leader24thJoseph R. Marro* Democrat25thManfred Ohrenstein Democrat26thHarry Kraf* Democrat27thIvan Warner* Democrat28thAbraham Bernstein Democrat29thJoseph E. Marine Democrat30thHunter Meighan* Republican31stGeorge W. Cornell* Republican32ndWilliam F. Condon* Republican33rdD. Clinton Dominick III* Republican34thE. Ogden Bush* Republican35thErnest I. Hatfield* Republican36thJulian B. Erway* Democrat37thAlbert Berkowitz* Republican38thOwen M. Begley* Democrat39thGeorge Eustis Paine Republican40thRobert C. McEwen* Republican41stWalter Van Wiggeren* Republican42ndFred J. Rath* Republican43rdHenry A. Wise* Republican44thLawrence M. Rulison* Republican45thJohn H. Hughes* Republican46thJanet Hill Gordon* Republican47thWarren M. Anderson* Republican48thGeorge R. Metcalf* Republican49thHarold A. Jerry Jr.* Republican50thDutton Peterson* Republican51stFrank E. Van Lare* Republican52ndThomas Laverne Republican53rdAustin W. Erwin* RepublicanChairman of Finance54thEarl W. Brydges* Republican55thWalter J. Mahoney* Republicanre-elected Temporary President56thFrank J. Glinski* Democrat57thJohn H. Cooke* Republicanon March 30, 1962, appointed to the New York Court of Claims58thGeorge H. Pierce* RepublicanChairman of Judiciary

Employees Secretary: John J. Sandler, died on March 4, 1961 William S. King, acting from March 4 to May 4, 1961 John J. Sullivan, from May 4, 1961J. J. Sullivan Appointed As Senate Secy. in The Times Record, of Troy, on May 4, 1961

State Assembly

Assemblymen The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature.

Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on (the)..."