Farley's staff cuts

Sen. Hugh Farley, R-Niskayuna, was telling me today that as a result of funding cuts due to the transition this year to a Democratic majority, his staff has taken pay cuts and been reduced in size. I'm a little late on this, as one key Farley staffer, Executive Assistant David Smingler, voluntarily retired at age 61 from his $107,000 job at the end of last year to help ease the impact on others. Smingler tells me his name appeared on a list of retirees on the TU blog, but his departure after 32 years of state service has not otherwise been reported. He's doing some part-time grant writing for Ellis Hospital in Schenectady and looking for other work, he said. Farley said he is planning to run for re-election next year, because otherwise he fears Democrats will target the seat for a pick-up. Republicans hope to recapture the Senate in 2010, which would let them control Senate redistricting for 2012 -- which would be a logical year for old troupers like Farley to retire, no matter who's in charge.