(Editor's Note: Judi Lombardi is Executive Secretary to the Hicksville Chamber of Commerce)

The Hicksville Chamber of Commerce's need to acknowledge the ongoing efforts of a non-business person who showed exceptional dedication to the improvement and betterment of Hicksville and its people for their generous contribution of time, energy and service given toward the promotion and growth of a better Hicksville is what has become known as the Citizen of the Year Award. This year's recipient is New York State Assemblyman Marc Herbst.

Herbst, Republican-Conservative and current assemblyman for the 14th Assembly District (A.D.), was born April 8, 1963. He is a lifelong resident of Nassau County and the district he currently represents. Herbst, his twin sister, Carol, and other siblings were raised in Plainview by parents Mildred and Frank.

With the support of more than 75 percent of voters, Herbst became the first resident of Hicksville ever elected to either house of the state legislature when he won his seat in the 14th A.D. during a special election in February 1994. He has since been overwhelmingly re-elected three times to the position. This remarkable support of the voters in the 14th A.D. is due in large part to Herbst's concern for the residents of the community.

Recognized by Outstanding Young Men of America, Herbst is well known for taking an active role in local organizations. He was elected president of the Hicksville Library's board of trustees and has served as president of the Hicksville Community Council and vice president of the Kiwanis Club of Hicksville.

In addition, Herbst is a church council member, school board member and parishioner of the Church of the Good Shepherd-Lutheran in Plainview, as well as a member of the Concerned Citizens of Hicksville, the Midland Civic Association, the Hicksville Historical Association, the Wantagh Chamber of Commerce, the Seaford Historical Society, the Wantagh Preservation Society and the B.P.O. Elks Lodge #1931. Active in Nassau County Republican organizations, Herbst is a member of the Nassau County republican Committee and the Ernest F. Franke Republican Club in Hicksville.

A graduate of Plainview-Old Bethpage High School, Herbst worked full-time to put himself through college, attending Nassau Community College before obtaining a bachelor's degree from SUNY - Empire State College. His efforts earned him a place in Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities. Herbst is now cited as a member of the SUNY Alumni Honor Roll. While working as an aide to the Oyster Bay Town Superintendent of Highways, and as a member of C.S.E.A. Local 881, Herbst continued his education, earning a master's degree in transportation planning and engineering from Polytechnic University.

With transportation issues being one of his primary concerns, Herbst sought and achieved the appointment as the ranking Republican member of the Assembly Standing Committee on Transportation in 1999. He currently serves as a member of the Legislative Commission on Critical Transportation Choices and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Capital Program Review Board. Recognized nationally, Herbst served as the New York State public sector chair for the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the nation's largest bipartisan, individual membership association of state legislators.

In January 1995, Herbst was appointed to serve as the ranking Republican on the Assembly Standing Committee on Energy. His efforts were devoted to ushering competition into the state's electric industry. Particularly, Herbst was involved in negotiations to provide Long Island ratepayers with double-digit electric rate relief. He is a member of the Assembly Energy Committee and has been appointed to serve on the Long Island Power Authority's (LIPA) Clean Energy Panel.

Prior to being elected to the Assembly, Herbst was employed for the Town of Oyster Bay, serving as First Deputy Receiver of Taxes, Director of Community Relations and Government Research and research assistant to the Oyster Bay Town Board - the legislative body for a town with more than 300,000 residents.

Herbst married Carol Cobb D'Alba in July 2000. They are proud parents of Victoria and Kerri Herbst and Suzie D'Alba. The couple met in Albany where Carol is a stenographer for the New York State Assembly.

Herbst has always been proud to represent Hicksville, his hometown. Hicksville is always on the top of the list when is comes to state grants. He was responsible for acquiring grants for Operation Downtown projects as well as for the beautification of JFK Park and fountain. He also included Kiwanis, the Hicksville Baseball Association, the Hicksville American Soccer League, the Gregory Museum, the Vietnam Veterans, the Hicksville Council of PTAs, just to name a few. It is obvious where his heart is.

Herbst is a successful legislator. Being a member of the minority part in the Assembly did not prevent him from being an accomplished legislator who is a true representative of the people he serves.

Assemblyman Herbst will be honored by the Chamber of Commerce during its annual Installation of the Officers and Directors on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at the Imperial Manor in Bethpage.