Aron Wieder took office in Albany this month as a newly elected assemblyman from Rockland County, stepping up the political ladder after 13 years as a county legislator.
But it turns out he’s keeping one foot on that lower rung after making his ascent.
Wieder, a Democrat who unseated Republican incumbent John McGowan in the 97th Assembly District in November, confirmed Thursday that he plans to retain his county seat while holding his new state office, as reported last week by News12 TV station.
Nothing legally prevents him from doing so. Rockland County law prohibits legislators from holding other local offices such as mayor or town supervisor, but not from being a state lawmaker at the same time. And New York has no law preventing its 213 state senators and Assembly members from holding another elected office.
The combined public pay for Wieder’s two posts is $212,500. That includes his $142,000 Assembly salary, which is the base pay for all state lawmakers, and the $70,500 he’s paid as one of 17 Rockland legislators. (His county pay includes a $6,000 stipend as deputy majority leader, a new title he was given this month by his fellow Democrats).
What does Aron Wieder say about holding both offices?
Wieder told The Journal News/lohud in a statement that constituents urged him to keep his county post to tend to “unfinished work,” which he described as “ongoing individual constituent concerns” and unspecified “larger projects” for the community. He said he had been assured “there is no legal barrier to holding both positions.”
He also said he was “gradually winding down my responsibilities as a County Legislator.” But he was noncommittal when asked if that meant he will relinquish his seat, saying he was evaluating how to manage both positions and wasn’t “ready to make any definitive decisions about the future just yet.”
“My priority remains doing what’s best for my constituents in each of these roles,” Wieder said.
Rockland County Legislator Aron Wieder speaks as New York City Police Officers Russell Mattera, left, and David Radziwon received several awards for their work in apprehending the person who allegedly carried out the machete attack on Hanukkah celebrants in Monsey Jan. 21, 2020. The awards were presented at the Rockland County Legislature in New City.
Rockland legislators hold their meetings in the evening, so it may be possible for Wieder to attend daytime votes and meetings in Albany and make it home in time to join his county colleagues, even with a two-hour drive. Timing conflicts might arise only during hectic spells in Albany’s six-month calendar, such as when the budget is being completed, or when the session ends with a crush of bills in June.
What about New York’s limit on outside pay for state lawmakers?
What ultimately could trip up Wieder is a 2022 state law, now being reviewed by an appeals court, that prohibits New York lawmakers from earning more than $35,000 a year from other jobs, on top of their state salaries. Lawmakers set that limit when they raised their salaries by 29% to $142,000, the highest state legislature pay in the U.S.
That outside-pay cap was due to take effect this month, which would have prevented Wieder from earning $80,500 as a county legislator. But Republican lawmakers brought two lawsuits to overturn the limit and won a ruling in state court in Long Island last year, putting the restriction on hold while appeals play out. The case is now pending in the Appellate Division.
Wieder, a Spring Valley resident who previously served on the East Ramapo school board, was last re-elected without an opponent to his District 13 county seat in 2023 and has three years left in his term. For his Assembly post, he represents part of Ramapo and most of Orangetown and is serving a two-year term that expires at the end of 2026.
Chris McKenna covers government and politics for The Journal News and USA Today Network. Reach him at cmckenna@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Rockland legislator Wieder keeps county seat after joining NY Assembly