John McEneny

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Member of the New York State Assembly from the 104^th district
Honorable John McEneny

In office 1993 – present
Preceded by	Richard Conners

Born	1943 Albany, New York
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	widowed (Barbara)
Residence	Albany, New York

John McEneny, also known as Jack McEneny (born August 30, 1943 in Albany, New York) is an American politician of the Democratic Party, and is currently a member of the New York State Assembly, representing about half of Albany County in the 104th Assembly District.^[1] ^[2] ^[3]

1 Background and early career
2 Work as an historian
3 Political career
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Background and early career

McEneny went to the Christian Brothers Academy, graduating with fellow future assemblyman Ronald Canestrari. He graduated from Siena College with a bachelor's degree in history, and attended New Mexico State University and the Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. He served in the Peace Corps in Colombia, South America, and worked as a social worker and for the youth program in Albany. Long-time Mayor Erastus Corning 2nd appointed him to lead the Albany County office of CETA Job Corps from 1971-1984. He directed the 1980 United States Census for the Capital District. McEneny was married for many years to his wife, Barbara Leonard, and is widowed; they have four children and a grand-daughter.^[2] ^[3]

McEneny's daughter Rachel married John Spencer, Jr., the son of Republican politician John Spencer, the former mayor of Yonkers, New York.^[4]

[edit] Work as an historian

McEneny has a degree in history, worked for over a decade as Albany County Historian, and remains involved in issues of archiving historical documents.^[2] ^[5] ^[6] He is the author or co-author of several non-fiction books, including Albany: Capital City on the Hudson.^[7]

He was a guest speaker at the 1999 national conference of American Youth Hostels.

[edit] Political career

McEneny served as the first director of the New York State "Urban Cultural Parks" program from 1985 to 1989. He was an assistant to Albany County Executive Jim Coyne from 1989 to 1991.^[2] ^[3]

In his first election in 1991, McEneny won a write-in campaign for County Legislature.

After serving as chief of staff for state assemblyman Richard Conners for two years, Conners retired and McEneny ran for the position himself in 1992. He won a four-way primary for that seat in September 1992, and the general election that November. He was re-elected in 1994 and 1996.^[2]

In the 1997 primary, McEneny unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Mayor Gerald Jennings for the Democratic nomination for Mayor of the City of Albany, New York.

The following year, Jennings supported the race of Albany county legislator Gary Domolowitz in a primary election against McEneny. In September 1998, McEneny won with 75 % of the primary vote. He has easily won re-election since, in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004,^[8] and 2006.^[9] ^[2] ^[3]

In 2006, McEneny beat Jennings, this time in an election for New York State Democratic Committee, by a vote of 6,346 to 5,589.^[10]

He has not officially announced his candidacy for re-election for a ninth term, but is widely expected to run again.^{[citation needed]}