You know his politics. But do you know that Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli throws caution into the blender when it comes to ordering breakfast at Bruce's favoring a full-egg omelet, which we enviously eyed while downing the more bland egg-white-only version? Usually when we see the assemblyman at a breakfast/lunch/dinner meeting, he is busy working the room, talking and listening intently with constituents, and come to think of it, one rarely sees him eating at all. So, it was a treat to sit down with him after a particularly strenuous legislative season and chat with him on a range of topics ranging from his recent move to an apartment in Great Neck Plaza to his strategy of staying effective in a sometimes dysfunctional Albany governmental branch, the state legislature.

Our first question was, "How do you manage to get things done in the legislature?" Mr. DiNapoli acknowledges that the inertia of the assemblage can be frustrating, but it is clear that his ability to transcend the conflicts, the petty distractions and the ego plays, is by now an art form, although he is far too modest to characterize it that way. He says, "The secret to getting things done in Albany is to stay focused. It takes forbearance and patience to accomplish anything there and it takes knowing when to adjust, when to compromise. You have to have very specific goals and keep yourself from getting sidetracked. If you allow yourself to get stuck in frustration, you won't get anything done. I also try to stay balanced between staying connected with my district and its needs and getting involved in statewide concerns."

His pragmatic approach has paid off over the years and especially this year when, as chairman of the Environmental Committee, he was able to lead the crafting of legislation for restoring state funding into cleaning up abandoned, contaminated parcels of land, known as the Brownfields bill. Hailed by legislative leaders as "historic legislation," it is an impressive accomplishment. The complex bill itself is 108 pages long and is the result of years of study and debate. Tom says, "By cleaning unused industrial sites and refinancing the state's Superfund program we are not only removing environmental threats from communities throughout the state, we are also revitalizing local economies. This is a momentous agreement that will provide tremendous benefits for this state for generations to come."

Thousands of parcels of land across New York State have been essentially unusable. Polluters, some of whom filed bankruptcy or simply disappeared, abandoned the land leaving municipalities with overgrown, desolate lots that no longer contributed to the tax coffers. The Brownfields legislation sets up a structure that will make remediation more doable for developers. It will also provide monies for community grants for neighborhood planning and brownfield site assessments, as well as technical assistance grants.

At the end of the session, there were convoluted, technical problems that resulted in the Senate's not taking action on the bill, but Mr. DiNapoli was sanguine about its ultimate passage, as it is expected that when the Senate reconvenes, they will take appropriate action. State Senator Michael Balboni recently said, "This bill had languished on the back burner for years and it is basically because of Tom's skillful work that all the complicated details and problems were worked out and it became viable for passage. Tom is extremely respected on both sides of the aisle and his leadership on the Environmental Committee is just outstanding."

While Mr. DiNapoli is well-known for his environmental expertise, he is also an arduous advocate for social programs as well. This year he is especially gratified that his work to make baby-selling a felony, was passed. "We wanted to protect prospective adoptive parents and kids from unscrupulous practices," he said. One senses that he probably became aware of the problem because of his close connection with the people in his district.

He has been very effective in securing grants for numerous community based programs ranging widely from the schools, the seniors, the handicapped to the improvement and clean-up of Long Island Sound. Part of his success as a legislator is his accessibility to his constituents and the responsiveness of his district office staff. If you call his office, the phone will be answered by a real person. No annoying menus or impersonal treatment.

What lies ahead? What challenges await our talented assemblyman? "The next big job ahead is funding for education," he says. The recent ruling that New York City's education financing is inadequate will have untold consequences for the education system itself. "How do we protect our school districts during the economic downturn? What will be the role of the state? What about local funding?" Clearly he is already grappling with the many diverse, complex issues that stretch ahead regarding the future of public education and the distribution of precious resources. Solving the problems will require patience, forbearance, and staying focused.

So while many may wonder what Tom would have accomplished by now, if he had become county executive, it is obvious that his abilities are needed and welcomed in the New York State Legislature and that his political star is shining brightly.