Ro Ann Destito
Commissioner of the New York State
Office of General Services
Assumed office
May 10, 2011
Preceded byJohn C. Egan
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 116th district
In office
January 1, 1993 – May 9, 2011
Preceded byRalph Eannace
Succeeded byAnthony Brindisi
Personal details
Born (1956-01-15) January 15, 1956
Utica, New York
Political partyDemocratic
Residence(s)Rome, New York, U.S.

Ro Ann Maggiolino Destito (born January 15, 1956) was appointed Commissioner of the New York State Office of General Services overseeing all state contracts, by Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2011.[1] She resigned from this position in October 2021 and was succeeded by Jeanette M. Moy who was appointed by Governor Hochul in October 2021 (https://ogs.ny.gov/commissioner-jeanette-m-moy). Prior to becoming Commissioner she was a member of the New York State Assembly for the 116th district (which includes Rome and Utica) from 1993 to 2011 when she resigned. She is a Democrat.

Career

Her tenure included a seat on the New York State Liquor Authority Board. While she was on the SLA, her husband's liquor wholesale client the Oneida Indian Nation's Turning Stone Resort & Casino was granted the legal right to have alcohol served at the casino. In 2009, Oneida County Legislator Michael Hennessy spoke out against issuing the permit and requested an investigation.[2] To comply with this deal approximately 1,200 employees were switched from working for Turning Stone to now being employed by CD Food & Beverage.[3]

In September 2011, Destito proclaimed a curfew of 7pm to help Albany State Park Police break up a demonstration. Protesters argued that by sleeping in a public park they were expressing a protected First Amendment right to free speech and were not subject to curfews.[4] Albany police did not make any arrests.

In 2013, she was accused of ethics violations by lobbying for the casino's gaming deal.[5]

Personal life

She is the widow of Chris Destito, former President of the Rome Chamber of Commerce and owner of the Beeches Restaurant and Convention Center; and the mother of one son.

References

  1. ↑ "Governor Cuomo Announces Unanimous Senate Confirmation of Assemblywoman RoAnn Destito as Commissioner of The Office of General Services". www.governor.ny.gov. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  2. ↑ Fusco, Jennifer (27 August 2017). "Hennessy sees Destito conflict in Turning Stone permits". Observer-Dispatch. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  3. ↑ AP. "Regulators OK liquor sales at Turning Stone Casino". AP. Native American Times. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  4. ↑ Lyons, Brendan J. (October 27, 2011). "Occupy Albany protest draws state curfew change". Albany Times Union. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  5. ↑ McKinley, Jesse (11 September 2013). "Ballot Measure on Casinos Will Have a Positive Slant". The New York Times.
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