Park Slope

Brennan says he will not run for re-election

Veteran assembly member has served for 32 years

June 1, 2016 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle
James Brennan is one of the assembly’s more senior members. Photo courtesy of Brennan’s office
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James Brennan, who was first elected to the New York State Assembly in 1984, is retiring.

Brennan (D-Park Slope-Windsor Terrace-Kensington) announced on his Facebook page on Tuesday that he will not be running for re-election in November.

“I am writing to let you know I will not be seeking re-election to the New York State Assembly after thirty-two years in office. I am deeply grateful for the support you have shown me during this time and it has been an honor and an inspiration to be in public service. I am proud of all the good things my office and staff have done in collaboration with the thousands of wonderful people I have had the chance to represent,” he wrote in an open letter posted to his page.

Brennan, who represents the 44th Assembly District (AD), wrote that he is proud of his achievements in the state Legislature.

“I chaired four committees. There are 95 Brennan laws on the books of the State of New York. I won three national awards for my legislative work. And I worked full-time with no outside compensation,” he wrote.

He serves as the chairman of the Assembly Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions and is a member of the Codes, Education and Real Property Taxation committees.

The New York Daily News was the first to report on Brennan’s decision to retire.

The veteran lawmaker also announced that his district office will remain open until Dec. 31 to provide service.

During his three decades in Albany, Brennan has seen four Assembly speakers come and go and is currently working with his fifth, Carl Heastie.

Brennan grew up in Manhattan and moved to Brooklyn in the 1970s. Prior to running for public office, he worked as a lawyer for then-Assemblymember Joe Ferris in Park Slope.

Brennan was elected to the Assembly in 1984 in what was then called the 51st AD. Through redistricting, his district has changed quite a bit over the years. It also has been renumbered and is now the 44th AD.

There are only a small handful of lawmakers ahead of Brennan in terms of seniority.

In an interview with the Brooklyn Eagle last year, Brennan said “the Assembly was fun” when he first arrived.

Brennan also told the Eagle that he still thinks the Assembly is “a fairly Liberal institution” today.

 

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