Siena poll shows tight race for Senate seat

With less than a month remaining before voters decide who will fill the State Senate seat left vacant by former Majority Leader Dean Skelos, Siena College released a poll last week showing State Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky and Republican Chris McGrath in a tight race.

Kaminsky (D-Long Beach) and Hewlett Harbor resident McGrath, both attorneys, are running in a special election scheduled for April 19, the day of the presidential primary in New York state. Skelos was convicted of corruption charges in December.

The 9th District encompasses Atlantic Beach, Baldwin, East Atlantic Beach, East Rockaway, Elmont, the Five Towns, Franklin Square, Island Park, Lido Beach, Long Beach, Lynbrook, Malverne, Oceanside, Point Lookout, Rockville Centre, South Hempstead, Valley Stream and West Hempstead.

According to the poll, among the top issues voters want addressed is property taxes, followed closely by corruption, education and job creation. It surveyed 529 likely district voters, and found that 47 percent would vote for Kaminsky — who represents the 20th Assembly District — while 45 percent would back McGrath. Eight percent were undecided or are supporting another candidate. The poll has a margin of error of 4.5 percentage points. Green Party candidate Laurence Hirsh, an accountant from North Woodmere, was not included by name in the poll.

“Todd Kaminsky leads this race because South Shore residents want to see change in Albany and locally, where dishonest leadership has led to dysfunction and corruption that is costing taxpayers,” said Kaminsky campaign spokesman Evan Thies. “Even in a district that has been represented by a Republican for 30 years, voters are clearly ready for new leadership that gets the results they deserve — and this poll shows they trust Todd Kaminsky to deliver.”