Aubertine to lead panel on energy after shakeup

State Sen. Darrel J. Aubertine, D-Cape Vincent, was appointed Monday as acting chairman of the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee as part of a shakeup orchestrated following the arrest of Sen. Kevin Parker, D-Brooklyn.

Mr. Parker faces a felony criminal mischief charge Friday after allegedly striking a New York Post photographer.

The appointment was made by Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith, who also tapped Sen. Antoine M. Thompson, D-Buffalo, to replace Mr. Parker as acting majority whip.

"Senators Aubertine and Thompson have shown great leadership within our conference. Drawing on the skills and expertise they have both demonstrated, I am confident they will handle these additional responsibilities thoroughly," Mr. Smith said in a statement.

Austin Shafran, Mr. Smith's spokesman, said Monday that Mr. Aubertine will remain acting chairman "conceivably until Senator Parker's legal proceedings have been fully resolved." There is no known timeline for the case, he said.

Mr. Aubertine's new appointment won't affect his standing as Senate Agriculture Committee chairman, the majority leader said. It also won't increase his pay, the senator's office said. Mr. Aubertine will have Albany staff already assigned to the Energy Committee at his disposal, however.

The Cape Vincent Democrat, who already sits on the Senate Energy Committee, shouldn't have a difficult time adjusting to his new role. Mr. Aubertine was a member of the Assembly Energy Committee from the time he took office in 2003 to the time he left it for the Senate in 2008.

"Certainly, this assignment fits well with my background, interests and experience," the senator said in a statement. "Energy issues are central to the interests of the 48th District, whether we are talking about the three nuclear reactors at Nine Mile Point and other generating facilities in Oswego, Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties, or the development of alternative sources, including biofuels. Like agriculture, energy is a critical component of our region's economy and statewide and with the future of renewable energy sources, the two are intertwined."

The appointment also brings the Senate Energy chairmanship back to the north country. Former state Sen. James W. Wright, R-Watertown, was the committee's chairman from 1998 until his resignation in 2008.