SOUTHERN TIER, N.Y. -- A name familiar to the Southern Tier has been brought into the conversation of who should fill the soon to be vacant seat of New York State Assembly Majority Leader.

The current Majority Leader, Ron Canestrari, from the 106th District, located outside of Albany, announced his retirement Tuesday. Since that time, Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo's name has been brought up in the apital as a possible replacement.

Lupardo was elected to the 126th District in 2004 and she says that while she's honored to have her name tossed into the hat, she plans to continue to focus on the needs of her district, since a replacement most likely will not be named until after the November elections.

"I just work hard at what I'm doing and take it one day at a time. And whatever I can do to help the community, whether its flood recovery or just in terms of economic recovery, is my main focus right now and if I thought I could serve the community better in that position I'd be happy to accept it," Lupardo said.

No woman has ever been the Assembly Majority Leader and Lupardo says that should she be offered the position, she would be honored to be the first.