ALBANY, N.Y. — Brian Kolb, who had served as the New York State Assembly Minority Leader, will step down from that post following his Tuesday night arrest.
Kolb was arrested for driving while intoxicated. The Republican represents the 131st Assembly district, which is southeast of Rochester. He is the longest-tenured lawmaker in Albany, having been in the assembly for 20 years.
The Ontario County Sheriff's Office says that on New Year's Eve, Kolb was caught driving drunk, after crashing into a ditch outside his home in the Town of Victor.
Kolb issued a statement on Friday evening:
“As Leader of the Assembly Minority Conference, I have always tried to put the needs and best interests of our Conference ahead of my own. That is why I have decided to step down as Minority Leader.
I have a profound respect for each and every one of my colleagues, and sincerely admire their daily efforts on behalf of constituents and communities in every corner of the state. But I will not allow my own personal challenges to distract from the goals, message, and mission of the Assembly Minority Conference. With a new year and new legislative session ahead, the work of our Conference cannot be undermined or deterred in any way.
I will be forever grateful for the confidence my colleagues have placed in me for the past 10 years. But in my heart, I know that this is the right time for a new leader to step in and advance an agenda that benefits all New Yorkers.
The events of December 31 are ones I will always deeply regret. On a personal level, I have begun the process of seeking professional help in order to heal, learn, and fully address the challenges that I, along with my family, currently face."
