Saland is notable as one of four Republican Members of the New York State Senate that voted in favor of the Marriage Equality Act in 2011.
A native of Poughkeepsie, Saland earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University at Buffalo in 1965 and a Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School in 1968.
In April 1980, Saland was elected to the New York State Assembly in District 99 to fill the vacancy created by the death of Betros.
[4] After voting for same-sex marriage in 2011, Saland received a Republican primary challenge from Neil Di Carlo in 2012.
[5] Although Saland won the primary by a margin of 107 votes,[6] Di Carlo continued his campaign as the candidate of the Conservative Party.