Assemblyman Accused of Drunk Driving Allegedly Blamed Women Drivers

A Finger Lakes-area Republican may be in trouble with a lot more than the legal system following his drunk driving arrest on New Year’s Eve. 

Court documents obtained by the Associated Press show Assemblyman Brian Kolb tried to blame his wife for the crash with a witness reporting the State lawmaker said “You know how women drive…” A separate filing shows Kolb had a blood alcohol concentration of twice the legal limit, .16%.

The lawmaker was arrested after crashing his state-issued Sport Utility Vehicle into a ditch in front of his home in Canandaigua New Year’s Eve, a week after publishing a column in a regional paper about the dangers of driving while impaired.

Kolb has apologized and resigned his position as Assembly Minority Leader but not his Assembly seat.

January 7, Assemblyman William Barclay was named the new Minority Leader.  The 120^th District representative is a Syracuse native and lives in Pulaski.

Senate Republican Leader John Flanagan congratulated Barclay, calling him “a strong advocate for his constituents in Central New York.”