Suffolk County Democrats
Kamala Harris made history Saturday as the first Black woman elected as vice president of the United States, shattering barriers that have kept men — almost all of them white — entrenched at the highest levels of American politics for more than two centuries.| read more ››
The Southold Town Democratic Committee is proud to announce that as of October 15th, 2020, Suffolk County Board of Elections data indicates that active Democratic registrations now outnumber active Republican registrations in Southold Town. This represents a drastic reversal from just a few years ago, when there were over 1500 more registered Republicans than Democrats.
Board of Elections data report active Democratic registrations at 6124 vs 6120 active Republican registrations. This is a small but very significant difference.
“The Southold Democrats have been closely following these numbers since 2017, and knew this was coming. But it’s absolutely happened more quickly than we anticipated,” says Kathryn Casey Quigley, Committee Chair.
The Committee attributes the increased pace to a growing anti-Trump sentiment...| read more ››
Assembly races seldom feature two candidates as knowledgeable about their district as this one. Both have deep roots in the North Fork, and in regional governance.
Laura M. Jens-Smith, 57, a Laurel Democrat, is the former Riverhead Town supervisor and former president of the Mattituck-Cutchogue school board. Republican Jodi A. Giglio, 52, of Baiting Hollow, has served 10 years on Riverhead’s town board and owns a construction management company.| read more ››
It’s been a busy two years for Steven Englebright. The environmental conservation committee chairman saw his groundbreaking climate change legislation signed into law, and got passed a bill toughening penalties for illegal dumping. Now the Setauket Democrat, 74, is pushing for second passage of a constitutional amendment establishing a right to clean water and clean air, the electrification of the Long Island Rail Road’s Port Jefferson line with solar panels on LIRR rights of way, and use of the Lawrence Aviation site for a rail yard after electrification.| read more ››
Philip R. Ramos epitomizes the notion of serving one’s community, first as a 20-year Suffolk County police officer and now seeking his 10th Assembly term. The Brentwood Democrat pushed for the Dream Act to give college students brought here illegally as children access to financial aid and scholarships, and is sponsoring a bill creating early-retirement incentives for teachers so districts can hire more teachers at lower salaries. He supports needed policing reforms like use-of-force standards and universal body cameras, and wants to tackle gang issues with a gang court modeled on successful drug courts and apprenticeships with local unions.| read more ››
This unusually drawn district, one of the most gerrymandered on Long Island, has drawn two sharply contrasted candidates for the seat being vacated by Michael LiPetri.
Ann M. Brancato, 78, a Democrat from Massapequa, has work experience in health care, human services, social work, job development and professional recruitment. She understands the value of preparation, and has done her homework on the issues that would confront an Assembly member.| read more ››
Steve Stern is a lawmaker with ideas that can make a difference. The Dix Hills Democrat, who has served in Albany since 2018, is keenly aware of the problems of small businesses in his districts and the pain of those who are short on food. Stern, who turns 51 this week, understands the urgency of protecting our water quality. An elder care lawyer, Stern seeks to eliminate a new Medicaid home-care benefit with out-of-control costs to make sure there are no cuts in state education funding.| read more ››
After three terms in Albany, Democrat Kimberly Jean-Pierre, 36, of Wheatley Heights, has made the case for a fourth term by her record of providing reliable constituent services while delivering on her legislative agenda. She has sponsored laws requiring boating safety instruction, expanding insurance coverage of mammograms for women age 35 to 39 when medically necessary, and revoking the licenses of real estate brokers who discriminate.| read more ››
State Sen. John E. Brooks will stand alone on the ballot this fall, after the Republican Party’s two possible candidates were disqualified because of successful legal challenges.
But Brooks, now completing his second term in office in the 8th Senate District, commendably stands out for other reasons. Just before the pandemic took hold, Brooks had introduced a bill to cap the amount of a school district’s spending that comes from residential property taxes at 50%, in an innovative attempt to provide tax relief particularly for communities with a small commercial property tax base.
The Seaford Democrat says his plans were gaining traction, and he hopes to resume discussions, and find ways for businesses to contribute more to education funding.| read more ››
Neither Mike Siderakis nor Mario R. Mattera has held elected office, but each knows his way around the halls of power. That experience reflects most positively on Siderakis, in the race to replace former Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, at one time the most powerful Republican in New York.
Siderakis, 51, a Democrat from Nesconset, served as a state trooper for 28 years, including a two-year stint as legislative director for the troopers’ benevolent association. That experience meant he worked in Albany with lawmakers. Siderakis thoroughly understands the issues, and would be ready from the start to capably represent the district.| read more ››