{{short description|American politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Ro Ann Destito | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1956|1|15}} | birth_place = Utica, New York | party = Democratic | state_assembly2 = New York | district2 = 116th | term_start2 = January 1, 1993 | term_end2 = May 9, 2011 | preceded2 = Ralph Eannace | succeeded2 = Anthony Brindisi | term_start1 = May 10, 2011 | term_end1 = November 21, 2021 | office1 = Commissioner of the New York State<br>Office of General Services | preceded1 = John C. Egan | succeeded1 = Jeanette M. Moy }}
'''Ro Ann Maggiolino Destito''' (born January 15, 1956) was appointed Commissioner of the New York State Office of General Services overseeing all state contracts, by Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Governor Cuomo Announces Unanimous Senate Confirmation of Assemblywoman RoAnn Destito as Commissioner of The Office of General Services|url=https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-unanimous-senate-confirmation-assemblywoman-roann-destito-commissioner|access-date=2021-08-23|website=www.governor.ny.gov|language=en}}</ref> She resigned from this position in October 2021 and was succeeded by Jeanette M. Moy who was appointed by Governor Hochul in October 2021 (https://ogs.ny.gov/commissioner-jeanette-m-moy). Prior to becoming Commissioner she was a member of the New York State Assembly for the 116th district (which includes Rome and Utica) from 1993 to 2011 when she resigned. She is a Democrat.
==Career== Her tenure included a seat on the New York State Liquor Authority Board. While she was on the SLA, her husband's liquor wholesale client the Oneida Indian Nation's Turning Stone Resort & Casino was granted the legal right to have alcohol served at the casino. In 2009, Oneida County Legislator Michael Hennessy spoke out against issuing the permit and requested an investigation.<ref>{{cite news|last=Fusco |first=Jennifer |url=http://www.uticaod.com/x1528815806/Hennessy-sees-Destito-conflict-in-Turning-Stone-permits |title=Hennessy sees Destito conflict in Turning Stone permits |newspaper=Observer-Dispatch |date=27 August 2017 |accessdate=4 January 2017}}</ref> To comply with this deal approximately 1,200 employees were switched from working for Turning Stone to now being employed by CD Food & Beverage.<ref>{{cite web|last=AP|title=Regulators OK liquor sales at Turning Stone Casino|url= http://www.nativetimes.com/business/gaming/3557-regulators-ok-liquor-sales-at-turning-stone-casino |work=AP|publisher=Native American Times|accessdate=31 October 2013}}</ref>
In September 2011, Destito proclaimed a curfew of 7pm to help Albany State Park Police break up a demonstration. Protesters argued that by sleeping in a public park they were expressing a protected First Amendment right to free speech and were not subject to curfews.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lyons|first=Brendan J.|title=Occupy Albany protest draws state curfew change|url=http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Occupy-Albany-protest-draws-state-curfew-change-2238350.php|accessdate=23 June 2013|newspaper=Albany Times Union|date=October 27, 2011}}</ref> Albany police did not make any arrests.
In 2013, she was accused{{by whom|date=July 2020}} of ethics violations by lobbying for the casino's gaming deal.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/12/nyregion/ballot-measure-on-casinos-will-have-a-positive-slant.html?_r=0 | work=The New York Times | first=Jesse | last=McKinley | title=Ballot Measure on Casinos Will Have a Positive Slant | date=11 September 2013}}</ref>
==Personal life== She is the widow of Chris Destito, former President of the Rome Chamber of Commerce and owner of the Beeches Restaurant and Convention Center; and the mother of one son.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.nydems.org/html/electedofficials/destito.html New York State Democratic Committee Biography]
{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-ny-hs}} {{succession box|title=New York State Assembly, 116th District|before=Ralph Eannace|years=1993–2011|after=Anthony Brindisi}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Destito, RoAnn}} Category:1956 births Category:Living people Category:Women state legislators in New York (state) Category:Democratic Party members of the New York State Assembly Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:21st-century American women politicians Category:21st-century members of the New York State Legislature Category:20th-century members of the New York State Legislature Category:20th-century American women politicians