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The man former Gov. Eliot Spitzer loved to hate ”“ state Sen. Joseph Bruno, R-Rensselaer ”“ has stepped down as temporary president of the Senate and its majority leader, a post he held for 13 years. While allegations of business improprieties were brought against Bruno in 2006 and his files were seized as he walked out the door last month, Bruno continued to the end as Senate leader and a historic force in state politics.
Spitzer, the Sheriff of Wall Street, had guns blazing for Bruno from the day he took office. Some Albany insiders believe Spitzer was behind the FBI”™s interest in Bruno”™s private business. Spitzer saw Bruno as a nemesis to be conquered, but the battle did not go as Spitzer planned.
Spitzer filed a Freedom of Information Act request to see Bruno”™s travel records, hoping to catch the state senator misusing state troopers”™ work time for his personal use. In a true reversal of fortune, not only was Bruno cleared of Spitzer”™s charges, but Attorney General Andrew Cuomo declared Spitzer himself was guilty of the misdeed he accused Bruno of ”“ misusing troopers”™ time while, as attorney general, he campaigned for the governorship.
After 32 years in the Senate, the last 13 as majority leader, Bruno announced June 23 he was stepping down as temporary president of the senate as well as majority leader, turning over the reins to Long Island Republican state Sen. Dean Skelos, and announcing he would not seek re-election in November.
Bruno was a master of Albany”™s political alleys and a staunch ally of upstate interests.
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“It”™s a tragedy for the Hudson Valley,” said Sen. Bill Larkin, R/C-Cornwall-on-Hudson, who considered Bruno not just a friend on the floor of the Senate but a financial supporter of the region.
Sen. Vincent Liebell, R-Patterson, credits Bruno with bringing attention to the Hudson Valley”™s need to brand itself and building on IBM”™s presence  to create the Tech Valley corridor. Liebell says the choice of Skelos is a good move. “I”™ve served with him for 14 years and one of the first things he mentioned when he became majority leader was that we must work immediately on changing the property tax structure. I believe he”™s just as committed to our region as he is to his native Long Island.”
Liebell said Gov. David Paterson made an appearance at the Senate chamber ”“ “a rarity for any governor” ”“ to thank Bruno for his year”™s of service. “Although they were from two different parties, they were very close. Bruno always told us, ”˜If Paterson takes your hand. Trust him. It”™s worth it.”™Â Spitzer”™s departure and Paterson”™s unexpected rise to governor has already brought remarkable change to the horrific atmosphere in Albany. Where Spitzer was arrogant and unrelenting, Paterson has been a facilitator and is well-liked on both sides of the aisle.”
While the Senate”™s Democrats might have a different take on the departure of Bruno, one would be hard pressed not to see the irony in the tragic comedy of errors that became known as “Troopergate.” The stench of the trooper scandal was barely out of the headlines when Spitzer was caught in a prostitution sting and “Client No. 9” resigned in disgrace, leaving his political enemy Bruno as temporary president of the Senate as well as lieutenant governor.
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Last week as Bruno announced his retirement, the FBI was busy removing more than 30 boxes of files from his office. With his wife of 57 years”™ recent death weighing on him, 79-year-old Bruno will have more than most to deal with when he becomes private citizen Joe Bruno once more.
Meanwhile, the mid-Hudson region, whether Republican, Democrat or indifferent, has reacted positively to the changes in Albany and Paterson has done better as governor than many expected.
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