Steven Sanders resigning

Education committee chairman and charter school roadblock-thrower Steven Sanders is leaving the legislature:

Longest Tenured Assembly Education Chairman Retires
BY MICHAEL GORMLEY -
Associated Press
October 20, 2005
URL:
http://www.nysun.com/article/21807

ALBANY, N.Y. - The state assembly education committee chairman, Steven Sanders, announced yesterday he will retire from the chamber after 28 years.

Mr. Sanders, a Manhattan Democrat, was the influential chairman of the committee for 11 years. He was the longest tenured chairman for that post.

Mr. Sanders, 54, said he is resigning effective January 1 for "personal and family considerations."

"My time in the state Assembly has been incredibly rewarding, and I thank Speaker Silver for his leadership and personal friendship," Mr. Sanders said yesterday. Mr. Sanders helped lead the state to historic increases in state school aid since 1995, exceeding the increased aid often proposed in Governor Pataki's executive budgets. Education has become the largest percentage of the budget, and more state funds are now directed to the neediest schools.