Assemblywoman Latoya Joyner, 77th Assembly District, issued the following statement after voting to elect Carl Heastie as the new Speaker of the New York State Assembly. Joyner is one of the two new members of the New York State Assembly. She replaced Vanessa Gibson who is now a member of the New York City Council.
Prior to the vote Joyner said: “In recent days I have joined my colleagues in spending countless hours grappling with important decisions about the future of the New York State Assembly and the people we serve throughout the Empire State. As we prepare to embark on a new era and tackle important public policy issues that affect all New Yorkers, it is critical for us to elect a Speaker of the Assembly who is an open-minded, proven leader committed to building consensus and respecting the diverse needs of our complex state.
Carl Heastie is just such a leader and clearly deserves our support.
As I know from personal experience, Carl has a lengthy track record of being deeply committed to expanding the role of women in government and he has played a vital role in overcoming fractious divisions and unifying one of New York’s most diverse counties. His extraordinary skills will prove invaluable to the state Assembly as we move forward”.
Follow Us