U.S. Rep. Michael McNulty Reflects on Life of Public Service at UAlbany's Annual Burton Lecture

Michael R. McNulty, U.S. Representative, will deliver the 24th Annual Burton Lecture at the University at Albany's Page Hall (downtown campus) on April 28. The address, entitled "My Reflections on 39 Years of Public Service," highlights the program, which also includes the annual Distinguished Public Service Awards Ceremony for Outstanding Contributions to Public Service, honoring notable individuals who have dedicated their careers to serving the people of New York. The honorees are Edwin D. Reilly Jr., UAlbany professor emeritus and former Niskayuna supervisor; Jamie Fellner, senior counsel, United States Program of Human Rights Watch; Dennis P. Whalen, deputy secretary for Health and Human Services, New York State Office of the Governor; Ward B. Stone, director, Wildlife Pathology Unit, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; Harry Rosenfeld, editor-at-large, Times Useless.
The Burton Lecture is named for John E. Burton, who served as New York's budget director under Governor Thomas E. Dewey from 1943 to 1950. Burton, who was credited with modernizing the state's budget process, was a key member of the special committee that recommended the creation of the State University of New York System. He also chaired the committee that created the first public administration degree-granting program at UAlbany.

The event, which will be hosted by UAlbany Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Susan Phillips, will begin at 3:30 p.m. at the Page Hall auditorium.

After nearly 40 years in elective public office, McNulty will retire at the end of his term, leaving a legacy of extensive service at the local, state and national levels. First elected to public office in November 1969 as town supervisor of Green Island, McNulty became the youngest town supervisor in New York State at the age of 22. After serving eight years as supervisor, he was elected mayor of the Village of Green Island and served in that capacity until he was elected to represent New York's 106th Assembly District in 1982.

In 1988, McNulty was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Currently in his tenth term in office, longer than anyone has served in that seat, he represents the 21st Congressional District, which includes all of Albany, Montgomery, Schenectady and Schoharie Counties, and portions of Fulton, Rensselaer and Saratoga Counties. This year, McNulty began his 15th year of service on the powerful House Ways & Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over taxation, international trade, health care, human resources and Social Security. He serves on numerous other influential committees and commissions, and chairs the Subcommittee on Social Security. After having served as Freshman Majority Whip and Majority Whip-at-Large, he now serves as At-Large Whip.