He later said that at this time he also worked on honing his leadership qualities. According to The New York Times, Van Arsdale "tutored Mr. McLaughlin on the ins and outs of labor politics and electoral politics." In 1981, Van Arsdale "gave the ambitious young electrician a huge responsibility – to organize the first Labor Day Parade in the city in decades." Eventually McLaughlin left his electrician job and went to work for the CLC. Politics In 2003, McLaughlin was quoted about his happenstance of being a politician, saying he entered "politics quite by accident... I don't particularly like politics, and I have no ego for it, quite frankly... I guess all of us would say it's disproportionately influenced by money. But in the end, it's a process where you have a limited opportunity to champion and better the situation of the people who elected you. And if you don't have determination, it's an unfriendly process." Democratic district leader McLaughlin, according to the New York Times, "was drafted into running for Democratic district leader in 1986 with the Queens Democratic Party in disrepair after the suicide of Donald R. Manes; he won by 86 votes." New York State Assembly In 1992, McLaughlin was elected to the New York State Assembly from the 25th Assembly District, which covers a portion of eastern Queens. He served as Chairman of the Democratic Conference and also sat on the influential Ways and Means Committee. While in the Assembly, he was author of the Sharps Bill, designed to prevent workplace injuries in the health-care industry. He was remembered as "not a particularly high-profile legislator; most of his influence was exerted as a union chief." A February 2002 report noted that St. Ann's Athletic Association in Flushing had received $4,000 from McLaughlin for uniforms, equipment, and facilities, an appropriation he had introduced into the 1999 state budget. He stated, "Studies have shown that when kids play sports they are less likely to use drugs and get in trouble, and they are more likely to stay in school." Mayoral ambitions In 2003, there was speculation of a possible McLaughlin run for the New York mayor's office in the 2005 election. By October 2003, he had raised over $1 million of campaign funds for a possible run. Labor Council During McLaughlin's tenure at the Council on New York City Labor, he served as the assistant to the son