Tag: Todd Kaminsky

Republican Elaine Phillips beat Democrat Adam Haber to win an open New York State Senate seat but a sitting Republican Long Island state senator may be unseated, potentially tipping the balance of power in that chamber back to a Democratic majority.

John DeVito, a 25-year-old law student from Mastic Beach, won a three-way Democratic primary Tuesday, earning a spot on general election ballots to challenge freshman New York State Sen. Tom Croci (R-Sayville), according to unofficial results from the board of elections. That race was one of five Democratic primaries for state Legislative seats on Long Island. In the other four—two state Assembly seats each for Nassau and Suffolk counties—challengers were unsuccessful against three incumbents and a party nominee to fill a vacancy.

Registered Democratic voters will cast their ballots Tuesday in five Long Island primary races that will decide which New York State legislative candidates are among the choices on Election Day. The match-ups include a three-way Democratic primary in the lone LI state Senate race on September ballots and four primaries in local state Assembly races—two in Suffolk County and two in Nassau.

Nassau board of elections officials certified Monday that Democrat Todd Kaminsky, an Assemblyman from Long Beach, beat Republican opponent Chris McGrath, an attorney from Hewlett in the race for the ninth state senate district to replace ex-State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre), who was expelled from office when he was convicted on federal corruption charges in December.

Democrat Todd Kaminsky declared victory in Tuesday’s special election for a New York State Senate seat that could sway the balance of power in the chamber, but Republican Christopher McGrath hasn’t conceded. Kaminsky, a freshman state Assemblyman and former federal prosecutor from Long Beach, leads McGrath, an attorney and first-time candidate from Hewlett, by 780 votes, according to unofficial results tallied by the Nassau County Board of Elections. If confirmed, a Kaminsky win could give state Senate Democrats a majority for the first time since 2009—although that also hinges on if a handful of breakaway Democrats that caucus with Republicans rejoin their party.

A special election Tuesday will decide who replaces ex-State Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre), who was convicted of corruption.

The incoming chancellor’s remarks—made the same day as the gathering at East Islip Middle School—consequently carry enormous weight. Education advocates therefore view her acknowledgement that she’d “opt-out” as indication of a historically seismic shift—an alignment, even—away from the state’s long-held support of Common Core, and toward what opponents term “common sense” education policy.

The launch attracted Democrats representing local municipalities, the Nassau County Legislature, and the New York State Assembly. Collectively, they are seeking 12 weeks of paid leave for workers, which would amount to two-thirds of an individual's salary. The contingent did not offer specifics on how the program would be funded, but Cuomo has said his plan would be paid for through deductions from workers’ paychecks of 70 cents, followed by a $1.47 deduction by 2021.

The governors of New York and New Jersey have until the end of the year to decide if they'll veto the plan.

The Class of 2015 is the first to graduate without most students with disabilities having the option of a local diploma instead of a Regents Diploma.