Anthony Palumbo, a Republican New York State assemblyman from New Suffolk who has served the North Fork for the last seven years, has declared that he will run for the State Senate seat now held by Kenneth P. LaValle.
Mr. Palumbo called his bid for the State Senate “a natural progression.”
“I have a very close relationship with Assemblyman [Fred] Thiele and Senator LaValle,” he said by phone this week. “I think I have accomplished a lot of good things in my seven years. I would look to emulate a statesman like Senator LaValle because I live here and I understand the priorities that everyone holds dear in the region.”
He identified those priorities as “maintaining the quality of life on the East End,” taking care of the environment and preserving open space, keeping taxes low, creating jobs, and protecting public safety.
The latter is particularly near and dear to his heart, as he spent six years as a prosecutor with the Suffolk County district attorney’s office. He said he wants to overhaul the bail reform law that was recently passed, calling it “the immediate issue at critical mass.”
“It was recklessly done, and it needs to be repealed and properly passed with all of the stakeholders sharing their input,” Mr. Palumbo said. “It’s not a Republican or Democratic issue, it’s really all about public safety.”
He is the ranking Republican on the Assembly’s judiciary committee and a member of the codes committee as well.
Mr. Palumbo has an undergraduate degree in government and law from Lafayette College in Pennsylvania and a law degree from St. John’s University. He has a private practice along with his wife, Tracy Palumbo. Their two children attend school in Southold.
One of the first pieces of legislation that Mr. Palumbo helped pass was the first-time homebuyer exemption from the 2-percent real estate transfer tax on the East End, the proceeds of which go to the Peconic Bay Region Community Preservation Fund.
“The way you can make a difference in people’s lives is really satisfying,” he said. “You can help people in many different ways, whether it’s getting them a veteran’s check or saving them money when they’re making the most significant investment of their lives. It’s gratifying to help people, along with my staff.”
Mr. Palumbo will have a campaign kickoff party at the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead on Feb. 28 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $100 per person or $175 for a couple. R.S.V.P.s have been requested at 516-815-8732.
Among Democrats, four candidates have begun campaigning for the nomination to succeed Mr. LaValle. They are Tommy John Schiavoni, a Southampton Town councilman from North Haven, Skyler Johnson, a college student from Mount Sinai, Valerie Cartright, a Brookhaven Town councilwoman from Port Jefferson Station, and Laura Ahearn, an attorney and social worker from Port Jefferson who is the executive director of the Crime Victims Center/Parents for Megan’s Law.
