Politics on the Hudson

Sen. Dean Skelos, R-Nassau County, is expected to be named today as Senate majority leader, replacing Sen. Joseph Bruno who announced Monday that’s he retiring at the end of the year.

Senate Republicans are seeking to avoid a bitter leadership fight by installing Skelos for the remainder of the year. Then the Republican-led Senate would regroup and choose a new leader next year if they are to retain their majority in November, according to Republican sources.

Skelos already has the backing of Republican senators, and the conference is scheduled to vote today to install Skelos. Sen. Thomas Libous, R-Binghamton, will be named second in command.

Bruno has scheduled a morning news conference to announce the transition. Republicans hold a two-seat majority in the Senate.

Skelos, of Rockville Centre, Long Island, was first elected to the Senate in 1984 and has served 12 years terms in the Senate.

He has been deputy majority leader since 1995, when Bruno took over as majority leader. He’s been tough on crime fighting and is an author of Megan’s Law, the state sex-offender registry.

Bruno has been a champion for upstate New York causes, and some fear that could be lost under Skelos.

Yet other Republicans said that Skelos recognizes the importance of upstate New York’s future. Moreover, 20 of the 32 Republican senators are from north of New York City.

“I’ve always been supportive of Dean Skelos and I think he’ll be a great leader,” said Monroe County Republican chairman Stephen Minarik. “I think upstate will prosper, and I think Dean Skelos understands the issues of upstate, such as job creation and holding down government spending.”

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