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Assemblyman Sam Roberts, D-Syracuse, speaks to a crowd at a political rally in this file photo from Oct. 20, 2014.
(Michelle Gabel | mgabel@syracuse)
ALBANY, N.Y. -- New York state Assemblyman Sam Roberts was confirmed Wednesday evening as commissioner of the state agency that oversees all welfare and disability cases, the Senate majority office announced.
Roberts, D-Syracuse, will resign from the Assembly before he begins work at the state Office of Temporary Assistance and Disability.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo nominated Roberts for the job last month. The Office of Temporary Assistance and Disability has a budget of $5.4 billion and more than 2,000 workers, according to state records. The last commissioner made $136,000.
Roberts is a three-term Assembly member for the 128th District, which includes parts of Syracuse and all of Salina, DeWitt, Onondaga and the Onondaga Nation. He earned $79,500 as a member of the Assembly.
Roberts' seat in the heavily Democratic 128th district would be filled at the general election in November if he resigns before July 2, Dustin Czarny, an Onondaga County elections commissioner, has said.
Three local Democrats have expressed interest in running for the seat -- Syracuse Common Councilors Pamela Hunter and Jean Kessner, and former Onondaga County Legislator David Stott, of Salina.
Democrats have to gather 500 petition signatures in the district to get on the ballot, Czarny said. The signatures must be turned by July 9. Candidates from other parties, which have fewer members in the 128th district, would have proportionately fewer signatures to gather.
The state Legislature's session was scheduled to end today, but lawmakers are still in Albany as negotiations continue over the rent controls for New York City.
The rent rules, which expired Monday, cover more than 2 million tenants in rent-controlled and rent-stabilized apartments in and around New York City.
The Assembly and Senate are expected to extend their session into Thursday, Friday or beyond.
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