Sandy Galef

Sandra Galef (née Risk; born May 7, 1940) is an American politician who served as a member of the New York State Assembly for 30 years.[1][2]

Sandy Galef
Sandy Galef, a white woman with white hair and wearing a red jacket, stands in front of a microphone.
Galef in 2013
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 95th district
In office
January 1, 2013 – December 31, 2022
Preceded byIncumbent
Succeeded byDana Levenberg
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 90th district
In office
January 1, 1993 – December 31, 2012
Preceded byGeorge Pataki
Succeeded byRedistricted
Minority Leader of the Westchester County Board of Legislators
In office
January 1, 1984 – December 31, 1992
Westchester County Legislator
from the 9th District
In office
January 1, 1983 – December 31, 1992
Westchester County Legislator
from the 2nd District
In office
January 1, 1980 – December 31, 1982
Personal details
Born (1940-05-07) May 7, 1940
La Crosse, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseSteven Galef (married 1963-1998)
Children2
Alma materPurdue University (B.A.)
University of Virginia (M.A.)

Early life and career

Galef was born Sandra Risk in LaCrosse, Wisconsin on May 7, 1940. In 1944, she moved with her family to Westchester County in New York.[1] She received a B.A. from Purdue University and an M.A. in education from the University of Virginia, and began her career as a teacher in a rural schoolhouse near Charlottesville, Virginia.[1] Then, Galef moved back to New York, where she worked as a teacher in Scarsdale, New York.[3] In 1963, she married Steven Galef, a former Westchester County legislator and attorney, with whom she had two children; she remained married to Steven until his death in 1998.[4]

Legislative career

In 1980, Galef was elected to the Westchester County Board of Legislators, where she represented the 2nd and 9th Districts and served as the minority leader from 1984 until 1992, when she was elected to the Assembly.[1][5][6]

Galef was elected to the 90th Assembly District and began her term in 1993.[1] During her time in the Assembly, Galef chaired the Real Property Tax Committee, the Libraries and Education Technology Committee, and the Subcommittee for Rural Health, and was a member of the Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions Committee, the Election Law Committee, the Governmental Operations Committee, and the Health Committee.[1]

In 1997, Galef introduced an amendment to make the language of the New York State Constitution gender neutral. Galef argued that the gendered language of the Constitution was "old-fashioned" and that a change to gender neutral language was "symbolically ... important". New York voters adopted the amendment in November 2001.[7][8] In 1999, Galef was an early supporter of charter schools in New York.[9] Galef also supported several good government causes, including measures to build consensus with Republican members of the assembly,[10] campaign finance reform,[11][12][13] and staff budget parity between the majority and the minority in the Assembly.[14]

In December 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill introduced by Galef that allows city and town clerks to issue a one-day permit to a non-ordained individual to officiate a specific wedding in New York.[15]

Throughout her legislative career, Galef hosted two television shows, "Dear Sandy" and "Speakout with Sandy Galef", on public access television.[1]

References
  1. "Biography". Assemblywoman Sandy Galef. Archived from the original on December 4, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  2. Galindo, Nadia. "Longtime Assembly Member Sandy Galef Retires". News 12 Long Island. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  3. Galef, Sandy (February 2, 2022). "Reflecting on the Road I Traveled". River Journal Online. Archived from the original on February 2, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  4. Bonnett, Cara (July 2, 1998). "Former Legislator Steven Galef, 'Voice of Reason,' Dies at 58". Review Press Reporter. Bronxville, N.Y. p. 8. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  5. Feron, James (December 4, 1983). "Led By Mrs. Galef, Democrats Plan Challenge to G.O.P.". Westchester Weekly, New York Times. pp. 1, 6.
  6. Whitehouse, Franklin (September 25, 1983). "9th District: The 'Fair Fight' Campaign". Westchester Weekly, New York Times. p. 1.
  7. McKinley, Jr., James C. (May 15, 2001). "Voters to Decide on Gender-Neutral Constitution". New York Times. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  8. McGrath, Darryl (December 9, 2001). "Six State Constitutions Use Gender-Neutral Wording". Women's eNews. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  9. Feld, Jayne J. (January 4, 1999). "Charter Schools May Take a While to Catch On". Journal News. White Plains, N.Y. p. B1. ProQuest 896767182.
  10. Hare, Mark (February 19, 1999). "A State Legislator Calls for Consensus, and Is, of Course, Voted Down". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, N.Y. p. B1. ProQuest 911515264.
  11. Wallace, Jeremy (July 30, 2000). "Campaign Spending Comes into Question". Journal News. White Plains, N.Y. p. A1. ProQuest 908677043.
  12. Wiessner, Dan (July 30, 2007). "Lawmakers Raise Cash, Then Give It to Other Politicians". Journal News. White Plains, N.Y. p. B1. ProQuest 442944150.
  13. Randolph, Eleanor (May 26, 2003). "Fixing Albany: Two Ways to Boost Democracy". New York Times. p. A14. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023.
  14. Scott, Brendan (April 19, 2007). "Bonacic Bill Aims to Shake Up Legislature Patronage". Times Herald-Record. Middletown, N.Y.: McClatchy-Tribune Business News. ProQuest 465145907.
  15. Dollinger, Arielle (January 20, 2023). "Saying 'I Do'? 1-day Wedding Officiant Permit Cuts Cost, Hassle". Newsday. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
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