14. Richard Gottfried, Assemblyman
This legislative titan is the longest-serving member of the Assembly. Richard Gottfried’s commitment to commuting from midtown Manhattan to Albany for more than 40 years has paid off as much of the state has finally caught up to his progressive positions on legalizing marijuana, providing single-payer health care and reforming the juvenile justice system. As chairman of the Assembly Health Committee, Gottfried wields tremendous power over one of New York’s biggest industries.
