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'I will be your champion': Mannion to chair NY Senate committee

The Citizen - 1/8/2021

Jan. 8—After teaching for more than 25 years and issuing assignments to students, it's state Sen. John Mannion who has received his first assignment as a freshman lawmaker.

Mannion, D-Geddes, has been named chair of the new Senate Committee on Developmental Disabilities. With such a large Democratic caucus — there are 43 members of the majority conference — some committees have been split to form new panels.

The state Senate had a committee that focused on developmental disabilities and mental health. Now, there are separate committees for both issues.

As chair of the committee, Mannion will oversee the state Office of People with Developmental Disabilities, the Justice Center and laws covering people with disabilities.

"So many New York families know the struggles of having a loved one 'in the system,' and the enormous challenges of finding effective and trustworthy care," Mannion said. "My message to these families is this — I will be your champion. Your issues are my issues and I will never you feel lost or forgotten.

Mannion represents the 50th state Senate District, which includes parts of Cayuga and Onondaga counties. Prior to being elected to the state Senate, he was an Advanced Placement biology teacher at West Genesee High School in Camillus.

Along with serving as a committee chair, he has been appointed to other panels. He is a member of six other committees: Children and Families; Education; Environmental Conservation; Housing, Construction and Community Development; Internet and Technology; and Labor.

Mannion joins another central New York Democrat, state Sen. Rachel May, as a committee chair. May, D-Syracuse, chairs the Senate Aging Committee. She has led the panel since 2019.

Politics reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding.

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