Ex-Lawmaker Lands Job With State Agriculture Department

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — One of the breakaway Democrats who helped Republicans keep control of the New York state Senate for seven years has landed a new job in the Cuomo administration.

Syracuse.com reports Dave Valesky is now deputy commissioner of the state Department of Agriculture and Markets.

The 52-year-old Democrat served 14 years in the Senate representing Madison County and parts of Onondaga and Oneida counties. He was the ranking minority member of the Agriculture and Environmental Conservation Committees.

Valesky was one of eight Democrats who comprised the Independent Democratic Conference, voting with Republicans to give the GOP control of the Senate.

The IDC dissolved last spring. Democrats regained control of the Senate in the November elections.

Valesky lost a Democratic primary last September to Rachel May of Syracuse.