Kaminsky gets the nod

Dems pick Assemblyman for Skelos seat

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Nassau Democrats have selected Long Beach Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky as their candidate to replace Dean Skelos.

Kaminsky, a former federal prosecutor, was unanimously selected at a meeting on Jan. 4, beating out other potential candidates including Rockville Centre attorney Laura Gillen and County Legislator Carrie Solages.

“Albany urgently needs new, honest leadership and I am encouraged by the support of my party for this post,” Kaminsky said. “Over the next few weeks, I will continue to meet with my family, community leaders, and neighbors to determine how I can best fight for Long Island and the south shore.”

Kaminsky is a freshman Assemblyman, still serving his first term. He was elected in 2014 to replace Harvey Weisenberg, who retired that year after decades in the Assembly.

When he was convicted of felonies in his corruption trial on Dec. 11, Skelos was immediately removed from office, creating a vacancy that many say Democrats and Republicans are going to fight a nasty campaign battle over. With Skelos gone, the Senate is evenly split between Democrats and Republicans, although the GOP still controls a narrow majority because some Democrats caucus with them.

As a U.S. Attorney, Kaminsky prosecuted many corruption cases coming out of Albany, including that of former Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada. His anti-corruption credentials are expected to serve him well in a race that will most likely be dominated by talk of Skelos’s charges.

Republicans will have to prove that whomever they nominate is distinct and distanced from Skelos. Among potential nominees on the Republican side are Assemblyman Brian Curran of Lynbrook, Town of Hempstead Councilman Bruce Blakeman and County Legislator Howard Kopel.

Though he has the support of the party, Kaminsky has not yet officially been nominated. The party can’t make an official nomination until the special election has been set by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The most likely date, Cuomo has said, would be April 19 — the day of the presidential primary in New York. However, that date is not official yet, either, as the special election has to be held within 90 days of the governor calling it, so Cuomo is waiting.