Dean Skelos began his career in the state legislature 35 years ago, first rising to the position of Majority Leader of the State Senate in 2008. State House Reporter Zack Fink takes a closer look at Skelos' career which began coming undone earlier this year.

Elected to the State Assembly in 1980, Dean Skelos took his first run for State Senate in Nassau County on Long Island in 1982. He lost that first bid, but won the seat two years later, and has served in the Senate ever since.

He was the top deputy to Majority Leader Joe Bruno, who resigned in 2008 a few months before being arrested on federal corruption charges.

That paved the way for Skelos to take over.

"Together we can make a meaningful difference in people's lives and I think we have to remember that is why we are elected," he said in 2008.

Republicans lost the Majority in the State Senate later that year, but in June of 2009 Skelos helped bring four Democrats over to the Republican side in a coup that was considered circus-like, even by Albany's standards.

"It's a coalition," he said in the summer of 2009. "It's happened in five or six other states. It's not something unusual. And quite frankly I think you are going to see more and more of this throughout the country."

Democrats eventually regained control, but Republicans won it back in 2010, and Skelos became the undisputed Majority Leader in 2011.

"Let's seize this opportunity and get to work," Skelos said in 2011.

Known for working closely with Governor Cuomo, despite the Governor being a Democrat, Skelos was often in the news more for what he said "no" to, rather than the legislation he stood for. Like the 2012 minimum wage increase.

"My concern is that it has always been about jobs," Skelos said in 2012. "That this could be a job killer rather than a job promoter."

Utlimately, Skelos voted in favor of the wage increase, and even supported Cuomo's controversial 2013 gun control legislation known as the Safe Act.

Earlier this year Skelos was arrested, but he initially refused to step down as leader.

"I have never received more positive comments from people in my district as I have today," he said after his arrest. "They know me. They know I'm honest. And they know I've served them well."

Skelos eventually stepped aside as Majority leader but kept his seat. He now will automatically loses that seat because of his conviction.