Rockland Legislative Reorganization Includes Appointing New Legislator

The Rockland County Legislature begins its 2014 session with its reorganization meeting, which was postponed from Thursday to 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 6 due to inclement weather. 

Legislators will vote on appointing Democrat Barry Kantrowitz to the seat vacated by Republican Ed Day, Rockland’s newly sworn in county executive.  Kantrowitz, a 14-year resident of New City, is expected to win support of the legislature’s Democratic majority and be voted in to represent District 5, which covers New City and Pomona. If he is appointed as expected, the Democrats will represent 12 of the 17 legislative districts.  

Kantrowitz is a senior partner in the law firm of Kantrowitz, Goldhamer & Graifman, P.C. of Chestnut Ridge. He moved to Rockland with his family as a child and attended elementary, middle and high school in the county. Kantrowitz's community involvement includes being a member of the first class of Leadership Rockland and active with Junior Achievement of the Hudson Valley, the Rockland Community College Foundation, Jewish Federation of Rockland and JCC Rockland.  

Legislators will also appoint a new chairperson. Democrat Harriet Cornell who has held that post since 2005 decided not to seek re-election. After the selection of a vice chairperson, legislators will appoint the clerk and deputy clerk to the legislature. Laurence O. Toole and Mary Widmer currently hold those posts.

Democratic legislators will chose a majority party leader and members of the legislature’s Republican minority will vote on a minority party leader.