NY Assembly District 13 Forum Canceled Hours Ahead Of Start

GLEN COVE, NY — A candidate forum scheduled for Wednesday night between Democratic New York Assemblyman Chuck Lavine and Republican challenger Andrew Monteleone has been canceled.

The League of Women Voters of Port Washington-Manhasset planned to stream two virtual candidate forums on its website Wednesday night, including the candidates for New York Assembly District 13 at 8:30 p.m.

Just hours before the forum was to begin, the organization announced the forum was canceled.

"Candidate Monteleone just wrote 'Due to an unexpected circumstance' he has withdrawn from the forum," the League of Women Voters wrote in a Facebook post.

Monteleone told Patch early Thursday he withdrew due to a personal scheduling conflict.

"I do not believe it will be rescheduled," he wrote in a Facebook message through his campaign page.

Lavine confirmed to Patch in a statement that he was told Monteleone would not participate in the forum and that it was canceled.

"The League policy is that it will not present a debate if one of the candidates decides not to be part of the event," Lavine said. "Although I have always enjoyed LWV debates, this is a wise policy which I fully respect.”

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.

Monteleone, of Syosset, 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.

See also:

• New York Assembly District 13: Meet Charles Lavine