Mike Cusick, the Staten Island Dem who served as Albany's point person on Irish affairs, is stepping back from political life.
The President of the American Irish Legislators Society announced yesterday that he would not stand for re-election later this year - bringing to an end a stellar two-decade term in the state Capitol.
In 2014 I crossed party lines to endorse @Michael_Cusick. I took some heat from my party, but I never regretted the decision.
Well done, my friend.
You go out on your own terms after 2 decades of honest, effective leadership.
Vir fidelis, brother. https://t.co/QRlttFZaHz
— Jimmy Oddo (@HeyNowJO) February 25, 2022
Yesterday, he told the Irish Echo that he would remain engaged with Irish issues and pledged to carry on his transatlantic bridge-building work in whatever role he was to play in the future.
"Ireland is a big part of what I am and I will continue to build bridges across the Atlantic to support the peace process and develop lasting bonds of friendship and prosperity in the time ahead."
“While it has been an honor and a privilege to serve in the New York State Assembly, I am looking forward to taking more time for my most important jobs, those of being a father and a husband,” the chair of the powerful Energy Committee in Albany told the salive.com website. “I have been blessed with a loving and supportive family who have been by my side throughout my career, and I am looking forward to our next chapter.”
I participated in the Belfast International Homecoming. As President of the American Irish Legislators Society and Chairman of the Assembly Energy Committee I’m always eager to discuss climate and energy issues. I’m glad to be a part of this discourse between New York and Belfast pic.twitter.com/MZ4pXFhp8K
— Michael Cusick (@Michael_Cusick) November 4, 2021
Mike Cusick led three delegations of New York legislators to Ireland and has been a mainstay, in particular, of New York-Belfast links and an Honorary Chair of the annual New York-New Belfast conference. He is also a former Irish Echo 40 Under 40 honoree.
BELFAST VISIT: Assemblyman Mike Cusick pictured during a 2019 Legislators' visit to Belfast with fellow Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick and his Belfast hosts
