McLaughlin Ends Assembly Run

Will Focus On Labor Role
BY TONIA N. CIMINO
After 7 terms – 14 years – of serving in the State Assembly, Brian McLaughlin has decided not to run for reelection at the end of 2006 and instead refocus his full attention to his duties as president of the New York City Central Labor Council, a federation of 400 union locals representing more than 1.3 million workers.
“This decision not to run for re-election in the 25th A.D. is one I’ve been thinking about for a while,” said McLaughlin. “(In office), we’ve accomplished a lot of what we’ve wanted to.”
Credited with authoring more than 40 laws, including Vasean’s Law (which strengthens DWI penalties) and the “McMansion” Law (which eliminates tax incentives for over-development), McLaughlin, an electrician by trade, will now concentrate on the needs of working people.
“We will try to give dignity to those [workers] not yet members of a union,” he said. “The labor movement is a vehicle for a better way of life.”
A staunch opponent of WalMart, McLaughlin continued, “I think working people are entitled to champions to stand up on their behalf. The labor position allows me to ensure that the jobs people have are good jobs.”
McLaughlin said he will also work with immigrant advocates for rights of collective bargaining and will collaborate with Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Borough President Helen Marshall to develop housing in the city.
Drawing on his 30 years of experience as a community leader and the numerous relationships he has forged while on the legislature, McLaughlin said that in his new role he intends to work with the state AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations) and the legislature to institute a system of checks and balances in the Taylor Law in order to make management negotiate in good faith.
McLaughlin will remain in office through December 31. In his last year, he will focus on the budget process and continue to attend to the needs of his constituents.
“The calendar is still full,” he said.
He maintains that, at this point, he has no preferred candidate for his seat.
“I think the fairest way to serve the community I care about is to let people [candidates] come out to show how they’ll serve,” he said. “In the meantime, I look forward to finishing out this term with real zest and energy.”