Stephen Saland
Encyclopedia
Stephen M. Saland is an American
attorney and politician. He is currently a Republican
member of the New York State Senate
, representing the 41st District
since 1990. His district includes all of Columbia County
and most of Dutchess County
.
degree from the University at Buffalo in 1965 and a Juris Doctor
from Rutgers Law School in 1968. He maintains a law practice in Poughkeepsie, where he is of counsel to Gellert & Klein, P.C. He is also a member of the Dutchess County Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association
.
Saland worked as a legislative aide to a New Jersey Assemblyman
, and later as an executive assistant to New York Assemblyman
Emeel Betros, with whom Saland later became law partners. He began his own career in public service as a town councilman in Wappinger
. In April 1980, Saland was elected to the New York State Assembly from the 99th District in a special election following the death of Assemblyman Betros. His first action as a state legislator was to introduce a bill requiring the state to reimburse school districts for interest debts they incurred from borrowing money because of New York's budget crisis. He was elected in his own right in November 1980, and served in the State Assembly until 1990, when he was elected to the New York State Senate
to represent the 41st District
.
, legalizing same-sex marriage in New York
. Saland had previously voted "no" on same-sex marriage in December 2009. Saland announced that he would vote "yes" on June 24, 2011--the same day that the bill came to the Senate floor for a vote.
Saland is a direct relative of a former Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi
of Jerusalem, and this family connection was invoked during the 2011 political lobbying of Senator Saland by local Agudah
leadership in opposition to legalization of same sex marriage and the Marriage Equality Act.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney and politician. He is currently 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...
member of the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
, representing the 41st District
New York's 41st State Senate District
The 41st District seat of the New York State Senate is currently held by Stephen Saland originally elected to the office in 1990 .In 2006 he defeated Brian Keeler, a netroots politician and , to retain his seat....
since 1990. His district includes all of Columbia County
Columbia County, New York
Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 63,096. The county seat is Hudson. The name comes from the Latin feminine form of the name of Christopher Columbus, which was at the time of the formation of the county a popular proposal...
and most of Dutchess County
Dutchess County, New York
Dutchess County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. The 2010 census lists the population as 297,488...
.
Biography
A native of Poughkeepsie, Saland earned a Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from the University at Buffalo in 1965 and a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Rutgers Law School in 1968. He maintains a law practice in Poughkeepsie, where he is of counsel to Gellert & Klein, P.C. He is also a member of the Dutchess County Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association
New York State Bar Association
The New York State Bar Association , with 77,000 members, is the largest voluntary bar association in the United States.-History:The State Bar was founded with a constitution that dates to 1877...
.
Saland worked as a legislative aide to a New Jersey Assemblyman
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
, and later as an executive assistant to New York Assemblyman
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...
Emeel Betros, with whom Saland later became law partners. He began his own career in public service as a town councilman in Wappinger
Wappinger, New York
Wappinger is a town of in Dutchess County, New York in the United States. The population was 26,274 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from the Wappani Indians that inhabited the area...
. In April 1980, Saland was elected to the New York State Assembly from the 99th District in a special election following the death of Assemblyman Betros. His first action as a state legislator was to introduce a bill requiring the state to reimburse school districts for interest debts they incurred from borrowing money because of New York's budget crisis. He was elected in his own right in November 1980, and served in the State Assembly until 1990, when he was elected to the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
to represent the 41st District
New York's 41st State Senate District
The 41st District seat of the New York State Senate is currently held by Stephen Saland originally elected to the office in 1990 .In 2006 he defeated Brian Keeler, a netroots politician and , to retain his seat....
.
Marriage vote
Saland was the decisive vote on June 24, 2011 for New York's Marriage Equality ActMarriage Equality Act
The Marriage Equality Act is a 2011 New York State law that allows gender-neutral marriages for both same- and opposite-sex couples, while prohibiting state and local courts and governments from penalizing religious and religious-supervised institutions, their employees, or clergy for refusing to...
, legalizing same-sex marriage in New York
Same-sex marriage in New York
Same-sex marriage in the U.S. state of New York became legal on July 24, 2011, under the Marriage Equality Act, which was passed on June 24, 2011, by the New York State Legislature and signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo on the same day...
. Saland had previously voted "no" on same-sex marriage in December 2009. Saland announced that he would vote "yes" on June 24, 2011--the same day that the bill came to the Senate floor for a vote.
Personal life
Saland resides in Poughkeepsie with his wife Linda; they have four sons and four grandchildren.Saland is a direct relative of a former Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities...
of Jerusalem, and this family connection was invoked during the 2011 political lobbying of Senator Saland by local Agudah
Agudath Israel of America
Agudath Israel of America , is a Haredi Jewish communal organization in the United States loosely affiliated with the international World Agudath Israel.-Functions:...
leadership in opposition to legalization of same sex marriage and the Marriage Equality Act.