Robert L. King

Robert L. King (born December 27, 1946) is an American political figure most notable for having served as Monroe County, New York Executive and as the Chancellor of the State University of New York.

King was born and raised in Brighton, New York and graduated from Brighton High School. He graduated from Trinity College (Connecticut) and earned a Juris Doctor at the Vanderbilt University School of Law.

He began his career as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in California. He returned to Rochester where he served as an Assistant District Attorney and ran unsuccessfully for Monroe County District Attorney against Howard M. Relin in 1983.Citation
publication-date = 1983-11-09
title = Relin Defeats King
periodical = The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
pages = A1

In 1986, he successfully won a seat in the New York State AssemblyCitation
publication-date = 1986-11-05
title = 130th: King's Win Gives GOP Edge in County
periodical = The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
pages = 6A which he held for five years.Citation
publication-date = 1988-11-09
title = 130th: Margin Is Decisive for King
periodical = The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
pages = 6ACitation
publication-date = 1990-11-07
title = Votes Cast No Surprise on Outcome
periodical = The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
pages = 7A It was there that he befriended fellow Assemblyman George Pataki, who greatly influenced his later career. In 1991, he unseated Thomas Frey to become Monroe County Executive.Citation
publication-date = 1991-11-06
title = King Conquers
periodical = The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
pages = 1A In 1995, King resigned his office to join then-Governor Pataki as director of the State Office of Regulatory Reform.Citation
publication-date = 1995-01-02
title = King Has Ability to Reach His Public
periodical = The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
pages = 1A He cited his proposals to reform welfare, his introduction of Total Quality Management to county offices, the development of Frontier Field, education reforms, and collaboration with the city as his proudest achievements and his inability to achieve privatization of government services as his biggest disappointment.Citation
publication-date = 1995-01-10
title = King Saying His Farewells
periodical = The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
pages = 1A

In 1998, King became Pataki's budget director. In 1999, after a nearly year-long search, Pataki advanced King as a candidate to fill the shoes of John W. Ryan, the ailing Chancellor of the State University System, a move applauded by fiscal conservatives, but criticized by the SUNY rank and file.Citation
publication-date = 1999-12-13
title = The Debate: Robert King as SUNY Chancellor
periodical = The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
pages = 7A King had little experience in higher educationCitation
publication-date = 1999-12-07
title = Pataki Aide Is Selected To Lead SUNY
periodical = The New York Times
url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9505E4DE113EF934A35751C1A96F958260
accessdate = 2008-05-11 and had authorized a SUNY budget freeze only two months prior.Citation
publication-date = 1999-10-04
title = SUNY Faces a $110 Million Budget Gap, and It's Growing
periodical = The New York Times
url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950CE5DC1F3EF937A35753C1A96F958260
accessdate = 2008-05-11 Additionally, Pataki had a longstanding desire to reduce the role of the state in the University's funding which already led to one Chancellor's departure.Citation
publication-date = 1996-07-29
title = What Went Wrong at SUNY? Departed Chancellor Speaks
periodical = The New York Times
url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D05E6DD1439F93AA15754C0A960958260
accessdate = 2008-05-11 SUNY's board of trustees unanimously approved him and he took office on the first day of the new millennium.Citation
publication-date = 1999-12-15
title = SUNY Trustees Vote Unanimously to Approve King 14th Chancellor
periodical = The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
pages = B1

During his time as Chancellor, King sought to shift funding for the University System from state taxpayers to private hands by limiting the University System's budget,Citation
publication-date = 2001-12-26
title = No Budget Increase at SUNY
periodical = The New York Times
url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F03E6D91231F935A15751C1A9679C8B63
accessdate = 2008-05-11, requiring campuses to seek revenue from tuition increasesCitation
publication-date = 2003-12-03
title = Albany: SUNY Trustees Back Tuition Increase
periodical = The New York Times
url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9504E4DF163DF930A35751C1A9659C8B63
accessdate = 2008-05-11, from outside research grants and contractsCitation
publication-date =
title = SUNY Chancellor Wants More Aggressive Pursuit of Revenue
periodical = The New York Times
url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9503E0DF1139F933A15751C1A9669C8B63
accessdate = 2008-05-11, and from outside donationsCitation
publication-date = 2004-03-17
title = SUNY's $3 Billion Campaign
periodical = The New York Times
url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9406E2DC1431F934A25750C0A9629C8B63
accessdate = 2008-05-11. King also sought to index tuition to inflation for the first time in the University System's history.Citation
publication-date = 2005-01-07
title = SUNY Plan Limits Increases in Tuition
periodical = The New York Times
url = http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/07/education/07suny.html
accessdate = 2008-05-11

King's tenure was marred by his son's garnering of unwanted headlines.Citation
publication-date = 2002-05-02
title = Brockport: Hazing Suspected In Injuries
periodical = The New York Times
url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE4D81231F931A35756C0A9649C8B63
accessdate = 2008-05-11Citation
publication-date = 2005-02-04
title = Son of SUNY Chief Faces Felony
periodical = The Albany Times Union
pages = B1Citation
publication-date = 2005-08-16
title = Former SUNY Chief's Son Pleads Guilty to Assault
periodical = The Albany Times Union
pages = B4.

After five years on the job, King sought a leave of absence, citing family issues,Citation
publication-date = 2005-01-12
title = In Surprise Move, SUNY Chancellor Seeks Leave of Absence
periodical = The New York Times
url = http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/12/nyregion/12suny.html
accessdate = 2008-05-11 but the paid sabbatical raised the ire of the New York State LegislatureCitation
publication-date = 2005-01-13
title = Democrats Move to Scuttle Sabbatical for SUNY Chief
periodical = The New York Times
url = http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/13/nyregion/13suny.html
accessdate = 2008-05-11. King publicly rescinded his request,Citation
publication-date = 2005-01-14
title = SUNY's Chief Refuses to Quit, Foiling a Deal
periodical = The New York Times
url = http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/14/nyregion/14suny.html
accessdate = 2008-05-11 and spent the next few months negotiating an agreement to move from his position into that of Interim President of State University of New York at Potsdam.Citation
publication-date = 2005-04-05
title = State University Chancellor, a Pataki Friend, to Leave Post
periodical = The New York Times
url = http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/05/nyregion/05suny.html
accessdate = 2008-05-11

After retiring from SUNY, he joined the Arizona Community Foundation as its President and CEO.cite web
url= http://www.azfoundation.org/File/static/about/From_The_President.shtml
title= From the President
publisher= [http://www.azfoundation.org The Arizona Community Foundation]
accessdate= 2008-05-11Citation
publication-date = 2005-10-21
title = Albany: Former Chancellor To Head Foundation
periodical = The New York Times
url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9805E3D91F3FF932A05753C1A9639C8B63
accessdate = 2008-05-11

References