N.Y. PBO Law § 3-C

§ 3-c. Restrictions upon nomination or election to compensated\nfederal, state or local office. 1. For purposes of this section,\n"candidate" has the meaning set forth in section 14-100 of the election\nlaw.\n 2. No commissioner, executive director or other head of any state\nagency, as that term is defined in paragraph (g) of subdivision one of\nsection seventy-three of this chapter, shall seek nomination or election\nto any compensated federal, state or local public office, or shall\nbecome a candidate for such office, unless such individual first resigns\nfrom his or her public employment, or requests and is granted by their\nappointing authority a leave of absence without pay. Such resignation or\nleave must commence before such individual engages in any campaign\nactivities, including but not limited to, announcing a candidacy,\ncirculating petitions, soliciting contributions, distributing\nliterature, or taking any other action to actively promote oneself as a\ncandidate for elective office.\n