Greg Carman is new to politics, but not to the local community. Born and raised in Farmingdale, the 12th generation Carman is seeking election to the 14th Legislative District.

Carman, running on the Republican and Conservative party lines, said he's wanted to run for political office for a long time, but didn't feel an opportunity had presented itself until recently, when current Legislator Salvatore B. Pontillo opted not to return to office.

"I saw an opportunity to do something on a different level that I've been doing in the community for the past decade - and that's helping people," Carman said. "I've been involved in many different organizations for years. I've never been an elected official - I'm really running on a track record of community involvement."

Some of those community organizations include the Farmingdale Rotary Club, YES Community Counseling Center (member of board of directors), Concerned Citizens of Plainview-Old Bethpage, Farmingdale Community Summit Council (also on board of directors), Farmingdale Care and local chambers of commerce.

An organization close to Carman's heart is the Little Village School, at which his daughter is a student. The school provides therapeutic and educational services for children with special needs.

"It's hard to appreciate what many organizations in the community do for people until you're on the receiving end," he said. In addition to helping the school find a new location so they could stay in the Town of Oyster Bay, Carman also assisted them by founding the annual 5K Sleepy Hollow Run which is held as a fundraiser for the school and welcomes between 350-700 runners each year.

Carman is managing partner of the law firm Carman, Callahan and Ingham. If elected, Carman said he would bring his experience to the Legislature.

"I'm looking to work with all of the legislators and the county executive to identify areas where we can spend our money better, provide better service to the constituents [and] find ways to achieve savings," he said. "But most important is to make sure we spend our money properly and be accountable to the taxpayers in this district."

Carman said that issues important to him revolve around quality of life and tie into public safety.

"Being involved in this community and being on Main Street for the past 13 years - I've seen a decreased police presence [and] an increase in crime. In the 8th Precinct ... crime has increased 100 percent," he said. "That's a scary thing."

Carman said that the lack of police presence became blatantly apparent when he heard that a murder had taken place in the community, within 100 feet of residential homes. He said there is a crisis looming in the police department which he would look to remedy.

Additional goals Carman cited include preserving the environment.

"There are 10 1/2 acres on Old Sunrise Highway in East Massapequa the county wants to sell. I want to [develop] those 10 acres for recreational purposes by getting ball fields, parks and preserving it as open space," he said.

"I'm a believer that we can see something happen with that land because I've seen what the Town of Oyster Bay has done with the Liberty Site," Carman noted. "I think that by being a voice of this community and having the relationship that I have with the town board members, I can make really good things happen in this legislative district."

Carman noted that the community can easily see his commitment by where he moved his office building, a historic building on the corner of Main and Conklin Streets in the heart of Farmingdale.

The candidate also said that the cost of living is a major issue for residents.

"I really identify with [prospective homeowners] because I know how hard [my wife and I] struggled," he said. "So long as we don't come up with a way of solving the tax problem across the board, people won't be able to afford to live here."

Carman said he's always known he belongs in Farmingdale.

"I've always had a sense of commitment to this community. There is some sort of connection with the people - they are very friendly here," he said, noting that sense of community stretches throughout the 14th District. "People who grow up in this community tend to stay here, they raise their kids here. This is such a great [district] and I feel I will be a very good voice for this community. I'm passionate about it."

Carman and his wife Lina live in Farmingdale with their two children, Gregory, 10 and Emily, 6.