Brian Kolb
Encyclopedia
Brian M. Kolb is the New York State assemblyman
from the 129th District, and is the minority leader
of the Assembly. He was unanimously chosen as minority leader in April 2009, following the resignation of Jim Tedisco.
Kolb, a Republican
, has served in the Assembly since February 2000, when he won a special election. The 129th District is comprised by portions of Cayuga
, Cortland
, Onondaga
, Ontario
and Seneca
counties in Upstate New York
.
. He received his Associate of Arts degree from Saint Petersburg Junior College in 1980. From 1986–87 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 continued on to receive his M.S. in 1998. He became an adjunct professor at Roberts Wesleyan in 2000, a post he continues to hold.
Kolb currently serves as the Ranking Minority Member on the Committee on Banks, and is a member of several other standing committees. He is also a member of the National Conference of State Legislators, American Legislative Exchange Council
, and part of the Heartland Institute
's Board of Directors.
(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. He has also declined an opportunity to run against Kirsten Gillibrand
for United States Senate, and again declined to seek the 29th district seat even after Massa's resignation.
. He and his wife Lauren have three children: Britton, Clayton, and Kylie.
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
from the 129th District, and is the minority leader
Minority leader
In U.S. politics, the minority leader is the floor leader of the second largest caucus in a legislative body. Given the two-party nature of the U.S. system, the minority leader is almost inevitably either a Republican or a Democrat, with their counterpart being of the opposite party. The position...
of the Assembly. He was unanimously chosen as minority leader in April 2009, following the resignation of Jim Tedisco.
Kolb, a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, has served in the Assembly since February 2000, when he won a special election. The 129th District is comprised by portions of Cayuga
Cayuga County, New York
Cayuga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It was named for one of the tribes of Indians in the Iroquois Confederation. Its county seat is Auburn.- History :...
, Cortland
Cortland County, New York
Cortland County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, named after Federico Van Cortlandt, president of the convention at Kingston that wrote the first New York State Constitution in 1777, and first lieutenant governor of the state. The county seat is Cortland...
, Onondaga
Onondaga County, New York
Onondaga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 467,026. The county seat is Syracuse.Onondaga County is part of the Syracuse, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, Ontario
Ontario County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 100,224 people, 38,370 households, and 26,360 families residing in the county. The population density was 156 people per square mile . There were 42,647 housing units at an average density of 66 per square mile...
and Seneca
Seneca County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,342 people, 12,630 households, and 8,626 families residing in the county. The population density was 103 people per square mile . There were 14,794 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile...
counties in Upstate New York
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
.
Early life and career
Kolb was born in Rochester, New YorkRochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. He received his Associate of Arts degree from Saint Petersburg Junior College in 1980. From 1986–87 he was the Town Supervisor for the Town of Richmond
Richmond, New York
Richmond is a town in Ontario County, New York, United States. The population was 3,452 at the 2000 census. The town is on the western border of the county, south of Rochester.- History :...
, and therefore also on the Ontario County
Ontario County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 100,224 people, 38,370 households, and 26,360 families residing in the county. The population density was 156 people per square mile . There were 42,647 housing units at an average density of 66 per square mile...
Board of Supervisors. In 1996, he received his B.S. from Roberts Wesleyan College
Roberts Wesleyan College
Roberts Wesleyan College is a Christian liberal arts college located in North Chili, New York. It is the first educational institution established for Free Methodists in North America...
, and continued on to receive his M.S. in 1998. He became an adjunct professor at Roberts Wesleyan in 2000, a post he continues to hold.
New York Assembly
Kolb was chosen in a special election held in February 2000, and re-elected four times since that time. He won the November 2008 general election with 66 percent of the vote and ran uncontested in the November 2010 general election.Kolb currently serves as the Ranking Minority Member on the Committee on Banks, and is a member of several other standing committees. He is also a member of the National Conference of State Legislators, American Legislative Exchange Council
American Legislative Exchange Council
The American Legislative Exchange Council is a politically conservative 501 non-profit Policy Organization, consisting of both state legislators and members of the private sector. ALEC's mission statement describes the organization's purpose as the advancement of free-market principles, limited...
, and part of the Heartland Institute
Heartland Institute
The Heartland Institute is a libertarian, American public policy think tank based in Chicago, Illinois which advocates free market policies. The Institute is designated as a 501 non-profit by the Internal Revenue Service and advised by a 15 member board of directors, which meets quarterly. As of...
's Board of Directors.
Refusal to seek higher office
Kolb had been named as a leading contender to challenge first-term Democrat Eric MassaEric Massa
-March to the Primaries:Freshman incumbent Randy Kuhl had been elected to Congress with slightly over 50% of the popular vote in a three way race in 2004. In early 2005, former U.S. Naval officer Eric J.J. Massa, a long-time friend of 2004 presidential candidate General Wesley Clark filed to run...
(who eventually retired before seeking re-election) for the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
seat representing New York's 29th congressional district
New York's 29th congressional district
The Twenty-ninth district of New York is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives which covers a portion of the Appalachian mountains in New York known as the "Southern Tier." It is represented by Tom Reed...
in 2010; however, he declined to seek the seat after becoming minority leader. He has also declined an opportunity to run against Kirsten Gillibrand
Kirsten Gillibrand
Kirsten Elizabeth Rutnik Gillibrand is an attorney and the junior United States Senator from the state of New York and a member of the Democratic Party...
for United States Senate, and again declined to seek the 29th district seat even after Massa's resignation.
Personal life
Kolb resides in Canandaigua, New YorkCanandaigua (city), New York
Canandaigua is a city in Ontario County, New York, USA, of which it is the county seat. The population was 11,264 at the 2000 census...
. He and his wife Lauren have three children: Britton, Clayton, and Kylie.
External links
- New York State Assembly Member Website
- New York Republican Assembly Campaign Committee
- Brian M. Kolb: 2004 Politician Profile Campaign funding profile compiled by Opensecrets.org
- Response to New York League of Conservation Voters' Questionnaire