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Senator Vincent L. Leibell was born in New York City on August 6, 1946.
In 1994, in his first run for the State Senate, he defeated the former New York State Lieutenant Governor to win election. Senator Leibell's district includes Putnam County and parts of Dutchess and Westchester Counties. He was overwhelmingly re-elected in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006.
Upon taking office in January 1995, Senator Leibell was selected to chair the Senate Standing Committee on Housing and Community Development. As Chairman, he played a major guiding role in the reform of New York's complex rent regulation system, promoting the reform of the state's uniform fire prevention and building code.
In January 1999, Senator Leibell was promoted to the chairmanship of the Senate Standing Committee on Civil Service and Pensions. This critically important committee has oversight over billions of state pension dollars and hundreds of thousands of state and local employees. During his tenure as Chair, he oversaw the enactment of historic legislation, including a permanent cost of living adjustment for public retirees; a veteran's buy back program; historic pension tier equalization; a program to provide heart, lung and blood disease protection for police, firefighters, correction officers and EMS workers; and a series of bills to aid the victims and families of the September 11th terrorist attack at New York’s World Trade Center Complex.
In January 2003, Senator Leibell was called upon to take on a new assignment as Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Corporations, Commissions and Authorities. After authoring and sponsoring the most comprehensive public authority reform bill ever to be introduced in New York State, Senator Leibell then chaired a series of statewide public hearings on the issue, seeking to enact legislation to make New York’s public authorities the most effective, accountable, open and successful in the nation. Concurrently, he also made it a top priority as Chair of the Committee to strengthen the state’s legal requirements on corporate ethics, enact legislation to deter funding of terrorist organizations through New York’s charities, and to provide increased oversight and public accountability of not-for-profit corporations across New York State.
In January 2007, Senator Leibell was appointed to chair the Senate Standing Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs. As Chairman, Senator Leibell's responsibilities include the oversight and approval of legislation relating to all aspects of homeland security, veterans issues and military and naval affairs. A Navy veteran, Senator Leibell has served on active duty, and rose to the rank of Captain in the United States Naval Reserve, commanding a unit based in upstate New York. In 2001, Senator Leibell was appointed to the rank of Rear Admiral in the New York Naval Militia. He also serves as a member of the Senate's Budget Subcommittee on Public Protection.
In addition to his respected role as Chairman of those committees, Senator Leibell has also developed a strong reputation in the area of reform. A vocal champion of enacting budget reform to stop the annual late budgets and end fiscal mismanagement, Senator Leibell has been a leader in seeking a constitutional amendment to correct these problems.
Senator Leibell has been a member of the Insurance Committee for 21 of the 22 years he has served in the State Legislature, and is a recognized leader in the area of financial services. He has served as an active participant in a number of professional national legislative insurance organizations, including the National Conference of Insurance Legislators.
In addition, Senator Leibell is a member of the Senate Standing Subcommittee on Libraries, and has been instrumental in the effort to promote New York's libraries, as well as initiatives to advance the education and reading skills of both children and adults.
Senator Leibell has also sponsored the State's landmark Spinal Cord Injury Research Law and the historic Neuner/Goff Memorial Benefits Law which dramatically increased survivorship benefits to the families of volunteer firefighters killed in the line of duty.
He has been widely recognized by his colleagues and constituents for his work on behalf of the people of the State of New York, receiving the ALEC Outstanding Leadership Award, the NYSICML's Outstanding Legislator of the Year Award, the Friend of Law Enforcement Award, Yeshiva Ohr Hameir's annual Statesman of the Year Award, the Irish Legislator of the Year Award and the Audubon New York's William Hoyt Environmental Award. Senator Leibell has also earned a national reputation for success, being named National Legislator of the Year by the Republican National Legislators Association.
Prior to his election to the Senate, Senator Leibell served in the Assembly from January of 1983 to December of 1994 and became Assistant Minority Leader Pro Tempore.
Before becoming a Member of the New York State Assembly, Senator Leibell was an Associate Counsel to the New York State Senate. Previously, the Senator served as the County Attorney of Putnam County and as an Assistant District Attorney in Westchester County. While working as an Assistant District Attorney, Mr. Leibell was assigned to both the Rackets and Appeals Bureaus.
Senator Leibell holds a Bachelor's Degree in Economics and a Law Degree from St. John's University, and in June of 1983, was awarded his Master's Degree in Public Administration at New York University.
Senator Leibell, his wife Helen, and their three children Martha Anne, Vincent and Elizabeth Marie, reside in Patterson, New York.