Lifelong Farmingdale resident Gregory W. Carman has received the Republican Party nomination for legislator in the 14th Legislative District. The 14th LD encompasses the communities (or parts of) Farmingdale, North and East Massapequa, Old Bethpage, Levittown and North Wantagh.

Carman is currently a managing partner of the law firm of Carman, Callahan and Ingham. He has a general practice with a concentration in real estate, banking, estate planning and elder law.

After graduating from Farmingdale High School in 1980, Carman earned an AS in business in 1982 at the State University of Farmingdale, a BS in management information systems in 1984 at the University of Arizona and a Juris Doctor Degree from St. John's University School of Law in 1991. He is admitted to practice in New York and the United States District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts. His professional affiliations include the Nassau County and New York State Bar Associations.

Carman stated that he has a strong record of civic and community involvement, which he believes speaks volumes about his desires to serve others. He is the founder and president of the Carman Foundation for Children, which raises money for various philanthropic causes that benefit disabled children. He also founded the Sleepy Hollow 5K Run, an annual event that has raised thousands of dollars for the benefit of developmentally disabled children at the Little Village School. In addition, Carman is an active member of several community organizations, including the Farmingdale Rotary Club, YES Community Counseling Center, Massapequa and Farmingdale Chambers of Commerce, Farmingdale-Bethpage Historical Society, the Holland Society of New York, Columbus Lodge 2143 Order Sons of Italy in America, Farmingdale Care and the Greater Long Island Running Club. He served on the Farmingdale Effective Schools Shared Decision Making Committee, as coach for Farmingdale Soccer and as a commissioner of the Republic Airport Commission. In addition, he donated his legal services to the Little Village School and has provided volunteer legal counsel services to Athletics & Academics Equals Success and the Long Island Association for Aids Care (LIAAC).

Carman was an assistant Oyster Bay Town attorney from 1992 to 1993 and served as a legislative aide to the late State Assemblyman Philip B. Healey from 1993 to 1994. He has been serving State Senator Charles J. Fuschillo Jr. in that same capacity since 1999. Carman was also assistant treasurer for Chase Manhattan Bank, NA, from 1985 to 1990.

Carman stated that coming from a family with a long tradition of public service, he knows the importance of being responsive to his constituents. He said that his first priority as a county legislator would be to help develop a prudent fiscal policy to put the county on sound financial footing now and for the future.

"Since the Democrats took control of the County Legislature, they have not delivered what they promised. The county is still in financial disarray," Carman said. "Taxes continue to rise, services continue to be cut or simply neglected, and there is no end in sight to this downward spiral. I see reducing spending as the first step we must take if we are to strengthen the county's financial position. Consolidation of services and eliminating duplication of services are other avenues that have not been adequately explored. Nassau County residents have come to expect a certain quality of life, and the Legislature's prime responsibility is to take necessary steps to see that it is not only maintained, but enhanced."

Carman stated that drafting tougher criminal laws is another area in which he hopes to take an active role in the Legislature.

"I meet many people in both my professional and community activities and I get a sense that a significant number believe the law is too soft on criminals. If anything, the criminal justice system almost seems weighed in favor of the criminals," he said. "Their rights take precedence over those of the victims and society. I feel strongly that our laws can be tightened to better uphold the rights of the victims and ensure that criminals receive sentences that reflect the seriousness of their crimes."

Carman and his wife Lina are the parents of two children, Gregory (age 10) and Emily (age 6). The candidate said that he plans to bring his campaign to the voters in the months to come, by walking door-to-door through the 14th Legislative District.