Alexander Pete Grannis

Alexander B. "Pete" Grannis is the New York State Commissioner of Environmental Conservation (DEC). He formerly served as a Democrat representing District 65 in the New York State Assembly, which is comprised primarily of the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Roosevelt Island.

Grannis was nominated by Governor Eliot Spitzer as DEC Commissioner on January 25, 2007. He was approved in April.

First elected to the Assembly in 1974, Grannis served as Chairman of the Insurance Committee in the Assembly, and was a member of several other standing committees. In his capacity as Chairman he claimed responsibility for authoring New York State's Community Rating/Open Enrollment law as well as the 1996 Managed Care Consumer Protection Act.

Other notable pieces of legislation Grannis claims responsibility for are New York State's Clean Indoor Air Act, which severely restricted tobacco/cigarette use within public buildings, and the Adolescent Tobacco Use Prevention Act.

He served for a decade as Chairman of the Assembly Housing Committee. He previously served as chairman of an Assembly Subcommittee on toxic waste issues. He has served on the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee he entire time in office.

In January 2007 he filed an application for consideration by the State Legislature for appointment as New York State Comptroller, filling the vacancy caused by the resignation of Alan Hevesi. He interviewed with the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, the Senate Finance Committee and the search committee. He withdrew his application after being nominated as Environmental Conservation Commissioner.

He is a graduate of Rutgers University and the University of Virginia Law School.

External links

* [http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=065 New York State Assembly Member Website]
* [http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=BS022281&type=category&category=Gun%20Issues Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings]
* [http://www.gothamgazette.com/eyeonalbany/assembly/district65.shtml Gotham Gazette's Eye On Albany: New York State Assembly: District 65]