Robert L. King

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Robert L. King (born December 27, 1946) is an American political figure most notable for having served as Monroe County, New York Executive and as the Chancellor of the State University of New York.

King was born and raised in Brighton, New York and graduated from Brighton High School. He graduated from Trinity College (Connecticut) and earned a Juris Doctor at the Vanderbilt University School of Law.

He began his career as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in California. He returned to Rochester where he served as an Assistant District Attorney and ran unsuccessfully for Monroe County District Attorney against Howard M. Relin in 1983.[1]

In 1986, he successfully won a seat in the New York State Assembly[2] which he held for five years.[3][4] It was there that he befriended fellow Assemblyman George Pataki, who greatly influenced his later career. In 1991, he unseated Thomas Frey to become Monroe County Executive.[5] In 1995, King resigned his office to join then-Governor Pataki as director of the State Office of Regulatory Reform.[6] He cited his proposals to reform welfare, his introduction of Total Quality Management to county offices, the development of Frontier Field, education reforms, and collaboration with the city as his proudest achievements and his inability to achieve privatization of government services as his biggest disappointment.[7]

In 1998, King became Pataki's budget director. In 1999, after a nearly year-long search, Pataki advanced King as a candidate to fill the shoes of John W. Ryan, the ailing Chancellor of the State University System, a move applauded by fiscal conservatives, but criticized by the SUNY rank and file.[8] King had little experience in higher education[9] and had authorized a SUNY budget freeze only two months prior.[10] Additionally, Pataki had a longstanding desire to reduce the role of the state in the University's funding which already led to one Chancellor's departure.[11] SUNY's board of trustees unanimously approved him and he took office on the first day of the new millennium.[12]

During his time as Chancellor, King sought to shift funding for the University System from state taxpayers to private hands by limiting the University System's budget,[13], requiring campuses to seek revenue from tuition increases[14], from outside research grants and contracts[15], and from outside donations[16]. King also sought to index tuition to inflation for the first time in the University System's history.[17]

King's tenure was marred by his son's garnering of unwanted headlines.[18][19][20].

After five years on the job, King sought a leave of absence, citing family issues,[21] but the paid sabbatical raised the ire of the New York State Legislature[22]. King publicly rescinded his request,[23] and spent the next few months negotiating an agreement to move from his position into that of Interim President of State University of New York at Potsdam.[24]

After retiring from SUNY, he joined the Arizona Community Foundation as its President and CEO.[25][26]

[edit] References

  1. ^ “Relin Defeats King”, The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: A1, 1983-11-09 
  2. ^ “130th: King's Win Gives GOP Edge in County”, The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: 6A, 1986-11-05 
  3. ^ “130th: Margin Is Decisive for King”, The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: 6A, 1988-11-09 
  4. ^ “Votes Cast No Surprise on Outcome”, The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: 7A, 1990-11-07 
  5. ^ “King Conquers”, The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: 1A, 1991-11-06 
  6. ^ “King Has Ability to Reach His Public”, The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: 1A, 1995-01-02 
  7. ^ “King Saying His Farewells”, The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: 1A, 1995-01-10 
  8. ^ “The Debate: Robert King as SUNY Chancellor”, The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: 7A, 1999-12-13 
  9. ^ “Pataki Aide Is Selected To Lead SUNY”, The New York Times, 1999-12-07, <http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9505E4DE113EF934A35751C1A96F958260>. Retrieved on 11 May 2008 
  10. ^ “SUNY Faces a $110 Million Budget Gap, and It's Growing”, The New York Times, 1999-10-04, <http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950CE5DC1F3EF937A35753C1A96F958260>. Retrieved on 11 May 2008 
  11. ^ “What Went Wrong at SUNY? Departed Chancellor Speaks”, The New York Times, 1996-07-29, <http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D05E6DD1439F93AA15754C0A960958260>. Retrieved on 11 May 2008 
  12. ^ “SUNY Trustees Vote Unanimously to Approve King 14th Chancellor”, The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: B1, 1999-12-15 
  13. ^ “No Budget Increase at SUNY”, The New York Times, 2001-12-26, <http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F03E6D91231F935A15751C1A9679C8B63>. Retrieved on 11 May 2008 
  14. ^ “Albany: SUNY Trustees Back Tuition Increase”, The New York Times, 2003-12-03, <http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9504E4DF163DF930A35751C1A9659C8B63>. Retrieved on 11 May 2008 
  15. ^ “SUNY Chancellor Wants More Aggressive Pursuit of Revenue”, The New York Times, <http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9503E0DF1139F933A15751C1A9669C8B63>. Retrieved on 11 May 2008 
  16. ^ “SUNY's $3 Billion Campaign”, The New York Times, 2004-03-17, <http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9406E2DC1431F934A25750C0A9629C8B63>. Retrieved on 11 May 2008 
  17. ^ “SUNY Plan Limits Increases in Tuition”, The New York Times, 2005-01-07, <http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/07/education/07suny.html>. Retrieved on 11 May 2008 
  18. ^ “Brockport: Hazing Suspected In Injuries”, The New York Times, 2002-05-02, <http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE4D81231F931A35756C0A9649C8B63>. Retrieved on 11 May 2008 
  19. ^ “Son of SUNY Chief Faces Felony”, The Albany Times Union: B1, 2005-02-04 
  20. ^ “Former SUNY Chief's Son Pleads Guilty to Assault”, The Albany Times Union: B4, 2005-08-16 
  21. ^ “In Surprise Move, SUNY Chancellor Seeks Leave of Absence”, The New York Times, 2005-01-12, <http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/12/nyregion/12suny.html>. Retrieved on 11 May 2008 
  22. ^ “Democrats Move to Scuttle Sabbatical for SUNY Chief”, The New York Times, 2005-01-13, <http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/13/nyregion/13suny.html>. Retrieved on 11 May 2008 
  23. ^ “SUNY's Chief Refuses to Quit, Foiling a Deal”, The New York Times, 2005-01-14, <http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/14/nyregion/14suny.html>. Retrieved on 11 May 2008 
  24. ^ “State University Chancellor, a Pataki Friend, to Leave Post”, The New York Times, 2005-04-05, <http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/05/nyregion/05suny.html>. Retrieved on 11 May 2008 
  25. ^ From the President. The Arizona Community Foundation. Retrieved on 2008-05-11.
  26. ^ “Albany: Former Chancellor To Head Foundation”, The New York Times, 2005-10-21, <http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9805E3D91F3FF932A05753C1A9639C8B63>. Retrieved on 11 May 2008 
Political offices
Preceded by
Louise M. Slaughter		 New York State Assemblyman, 130th District
1987 – 1991		 Succeeded by
David Van Varick
Preceded by
Thomas R. Frey		 Monroe County, New York Executive
January 1, 1991 – January 14, 1995		 Succeeded by
John D. "Jack" Doyle
Academic offices
Preceded by
John W. Ryan		 Chancellor of the State University of New York
January 1, 2000 – May 31, 2005		 Succeeded by
John R. Ryan
Preceded by
John A. Fallon		 Interim President of the State University of New York at Potsdam
June 1, 2005 – January 31, 2006		 Succeeded by
John F. Schwaller
Non-profit organization positions
Preceded by
Stephen D. Mittenthal		 President and CEO of the Arizona Community Foundation
February 1, 2006 –		 Succeeded by
(Incumbent)