State senator-elect Dan Stec speaks about road salt legislation at Berkeley Green in Saranac Lake Dec. 4, 2020. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Cerbone)

ALBANY — State Sen. Dan Stec was chosen as the highest-ranking Republican on the Senate’s Environmental Conservation Committee for 2021.

Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt made the appointment Wednesday, the first day of the state legislative session in Albany. Stec, a former state assemblyman from Queensbury, was elected in November to succeed the retired Betty Little as senator for the 45th Senate District, which covers the northeast corner of New York.

His background as the son of a state forest ranger and as having hiked the Adirondacks’ 46 High Peaks is relevant to the Environmental Conservation post.

“A few weeks after winning election, I contacted Senator Ortt requesting to be the lead Republican member on Environmental Conservation,” Stec said in a statement. “I held the same post in the Assembly, so I’m very familiar with the issues that come before the committee. Representing much of the Adirondack Park and having seen a lot of it firsthand as a ’46er,’ I know this is a good fit. I met with the chair of the committee, Senator Todd Kaminsky, when he was in the Adirondacks last fall and look forward to working with him.”

Stec also will be the ranking Republican on the Children and Families Committee.

“In my district, child and after-school care is a critical issue for many families,” said Stec. “Serving as ranker is a welcome chance to learn more about the many issues important to families across our state and to bring a North Country perspective to the discussion.”

Stec will also serve on the Banks, Education, Health and Libraries committees.