Charles Lavine is running for his third term to represent the New York State 13th Assembly District on the Democratic, Working Families and Independence party lines. He said he is spearheading his campaign based on his record and his reputation as a reformer in the Assembly.

"There is no course offered called 'how to run a district'," said Lavine. "You learn as you go and I really immersed myself in this job. Experience is so important."

Lavine said that a successful assemblymember must have a strong presence in the Assembly Chamber in order to be able to author and then pass meaningful legislation. When he first took office, majority assemblymembers would swipe their identification cards and that automatically voted yes for all of the bills on the floor that day. "People were not there and they were not present in the conferences where important policy was decided," said Lavine. "I was responsible for making people be present and pressing 'yes or no' for every bill."

Lavine said that when he was first elected in 2004, Tom DiNapoli was the most senior assemblymember from Nassau County and since DiNapoli became State Comptroller, Lavine said he has striven to help fill the gap left by his absence by authoring and then passing legislation needed by Nassau County. Some of the legislation that Lavine is most proud of includes the hotel/motel sales tax extension, sales tax extender and the cold war veterans real property tax exemption.

"Working on behalf of Nassau County, I advanced the red light camera legislation against the interests of the powerful chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee, an issue that drew considerable press attention, and stood up to that chairman with a resolve rarely seen in Albany," said Lavine. "And while that measure has yet to pass, I will certainly put to good use the tools that I learned during that struggle as I continue to fight in the next session for this common sense legislation that actually saves the lives of our citizens."

Lavine said his goals, if re-elected, are to use his governmental experience and good judgment to solve the financial challenges and reduce property taxes. "I will also continue to fight for laws that best protect our citizens from felons and weapons dealers, while standing up for the civil and human rights of our fellow New Yorkers," said Lavine.

Lavine lives in Glen Clove and he and his wife Ronnie have two children - Gregory and Andria.

"Based on my life's experiences of fighting for the rights of our citizens, my experience in the judicial system, my long-standing commitment to community and the invaluable insight and knowledge I have gained from serving in the Assembly, the Glen Cove City Council, the Glen Cove Planning Board and as general counsel for the Community and Industrial Development Agencies as well as the North Country Reform Temple, I am the best person for this job," he said.

The 13th AD includes Roslyn, East Hills, Greenvale, Sea Cliff, and Glen Cove.

Brian McMenamin is running on the Republican and Conservative Party lines for the New York State 13th Assembly District seat. Although he doesn't have any political experience, he said that his life experiences are invaluable and he is basing his run for office on change.

"I feel that we need change in the State Assembly and an end to tax-and-spend legislating," he said. "We cannot afford more of the 'same old Albany'. We need to live within our means and reduce the tax burden for the people of Long Island."

McMenamin is a former member of the New York Police Department and a retired detective. He traveled internationally for a currency-trading bank and for a private company engaged in similar high valuables transport. He has worked as an educator, serving as a substitute teacher in the North Shore School District and is a licensed private investigator. "All of my experiences have exposed me to people in their daily lives both domestically and internationally," he said. "I appreciate the benefits of living in such a wonderful country and especially the Long Island lifestyle."

On top of McMenamin's priority list is to reduce the tax burden for Long Islanders. "I will stop spending," he said. "I will endeavor to reduce the tax burden for Long Islanders including the tax on gasoline, which in New York State is about 30 cents per gallon higher that any of our contiguous states."

His solution, he said, is bringing "common sense back to government. I believe that it is of critical importance that we learn to live within our means - not our expected revenues - but within a reasonable budget which taxes the least and provides the services necessary to our citizenry."

McMenamin said, if elected, he wants to localize the position of assemblymember and maintain an open line of communication with his constituents. "I would meet with community groups in the areas represented in the 13th Assembly District and be of assistance wherever possible," he said. "I would utilize direct mailings to request the peoples' position on issues that are before the Assembly and I would keep my constituents informed of what the Legislature was proposing, as well as what was enacted."

Restoring the constituents' faith in government is something McMenamin said he would also make a priority. "I regret that our Assembly is not held in very high regard. I would like to be a part of having the New York State Assembly become a trusted and effective branch of the NYS Legislature and I would like to help the people of the 13th Assembly District become proud of their representatives and come to see that they can truly be represented in our state's capital. I will be part of the solution," he said.

McMenamin resides in Sea Cliff with his wife Marian and they have five children.

The 13th AD includes Roslyn, East Hills, Greenvale, Sea Cliff, and Glen Cove.