New York Assembly District 13: Meet Charles Lavine

GLEN COVE, NY — The general election is less than two months away, and President Donald Trump isn't the only elected official on the ballot. In New York, state and federal elections will also be decided.

At the state level, Democratic Assemblyman Charles Lavine seeks re-election against a familiar foe in District 13. Republican challenger Andrew Monteleone is running against Lavine for the second time after an unsuccessful bid in 2018. The district includes all or parts of Glen Cove, Lattingtown, Sea Cliff, Roslyn, Syosset, Jericho, Hicksville, Westbury, Plainview, Woodbury, Oyster Bay and Centre Island.

Lavine, of Glen Cove, first took office in the state Assembly in 2005. He serves as chair of the Committee on Election Law and is a member of the Committees on Codes, Ethics and Guidance, Rules, Insurance and Judiciary. Lavine previously served as chair of the Committee on Ethics and Guidance, co-Chair of the state Legislative Ethics Commission and as chair of the task force established to produce an Assembly Speaker’s Policy on Sexual Harassment, Retaliation and Discrimination.

Lavine, an attorney, is also president of the New York Chapter of the National Association of Jewish Legislators.

Monteleone, of Syosset, earned a bachelor’s degree from Bucknell University, a master’s degree from Long Island University's Post campus and a law degree from Fordham University School of Law. He has worked in criminal defense and personal injury law as a partner at a Mineola firm and has served as a board member of the Criminal Courts Bar Association of Nassau County, according to Newsday.

Patch has reached out to both candidates to fill out our 2020 candidate questionnaire. Here are their responses, lightly edited for clarity.

See also:

• NY Absentee Ballots Can Be Returned To Hundreds Of Drop Boxes
• Mail-In Voting In New York: Deadlines, How To Get A Ballot
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Charles Lavine

Age as of Election Day (Nov. 3): 73

Town of residence: Glen Cove

Position Sought: State Assembly

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Family: Married to retired public school educator and Planned Parenthood volunteer, two children and four grandchildren.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? One family member is consultant and another works in judicial system.

Education: University of Wisconsin, New York Law School

Occupation: New York State Assembly - 15 Years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: Currently Member of New York State Assembly and previously served on Glen Cove City Council and on Glen Cove Planning Board.

Campaign website: www.ChuckLavine.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

To continue to fight for reduced middle class taxes, human rights including voting rights and women’s rights, more funding for public education and for laws to protect us from gun violence.

The single most pressing issue facing our nation/state/community is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The COVID-19 crisis. I will fight for federal and state funding for rapid testing, treatment and prevention and for federal funding to support school districts and county and local governments.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am firmly pro-choice and do not and will not support President Donald Trump's policies.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency): N/A

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

Passage of Safe Act and Red Flag legislation, serving as chair of Assembly Elections Law Committee and sponsoring and passing laws on early voting, no-excuse absentee ballots, restricting dark money spending on elections, allowing voting by mail during COVID-19 crisis, allowing absentee ballots to be requested early and requiring notice to voters and time to cure problems with absentee ballots. Service as chair of New York State Legislative Ethics Commission, chair of Assembly Ethics and Guidance Committee and chair of task force that produced a model Speaker’s Policy on Sexual Harassment, Retaliation and Discrimination, each of which is bipartisan.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? No response.

The best advice ever shared with me was: No response.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions? No response.