Assembly Minority Leader Jim Tedisco (R,C,I-Schenectady-Saratoga) today announced that he has appointed local attorney John T. Mitchell to serve on the newly-formed New York State Commission on Public Integrity.

"I am thrilled to appoint John Mitchell as a member of this crucial commission," Tedisco said. "John's exemplary legal career and long history of public service make him a perfect fit for the position. The Commission on Public Integrity is all about good government and holding our public officials to the highest possible standards. John has proven that these ideals are of great importance to him, and I'm confident he will bring common sense, accountability and moral decency to the group."

An Amsterdam, N.Y. native, Mitchell graduated from Canisius College in Buffalo in 1961 and Albany Law School of Union University in 1967. He is past president of the Albany Bar Association, and a past member of the House of Delegates of the New York State Bar Association. He has worked with the law firm Tobin and Dempf for over 20 years, specializing in litigation and labor law.

From 1961-1964, Mitchell proudly served his country in the U.S. Army Artillery. He was a member of the Town of Bethlehem Planning Board from 1986-1989, and served as Deputy Town Counsel during the same time period. He is a former president of the Albany YMCA and remains a trustee and counsel to the organization. In 1999, former Gov. George E. Pataki appointed Mitchell to the New York State Public Employment Relations Board, where he served until 2006.

Mitchell and his wife, Mary Anne, have three children and reside in Delmar.

"It is the responsibility of every citizen to promote integrity in our lives and to see that it is promoted and followed in the public realm," Mitchell said. "I look forward to serving the people of New York State, and also to being part of this commission, which is charged with ensuring that ethical conduct is the norm in our government."

The New York State Commission on Public Integrity is a merger of the State Lobbying Commission and the present State Ethics Commission. It was created to regulate lobbying practices in the state and oversee sections of the Public Officers Law concerning Executive Branch employees, specifically financial filings, present and future business and employment issues and adherence to ethical standards.