‘He was a fighter for our region’

These days, when someone mentions Dean Skelos, the thought that immediately springs to mind is what’s in the news now: the corruption charges brought against the longtime state senator.

But not very long ago, Skelos’s name was invoked with cheer and thankfulness, especially in his hometown of Rockville Centre. For more than three decades, tens of thousands of constituents in his district returned him to office. Each election was an outpouring of support for the senator — a feeling that many in his district still have.

Skelos, 67, is serving his 16th term in the Senate, having been sworn in in January. It is not yet known whether he will have the chance to serve a 17th term, given the corruption charges that have been leveled against him and his 32-year-old son, Adam.

Whatever the remainder of this term holds for Skelos, in his 32 years in the Senate, he has made a lasting contribution — a legacy that many people in his district thank him for.

A ‘partner’ for the schools

Dr. William Johnson, who has been superintendent of the Rockville Centre School District nearly as long as Skelos has been a senator, encapsulated the reason why so many of his constituents like him. “Dean has always been a partner that protected his local interests,” Johnson said.

Skelos has become well-known for making sure that his district, and Long Island as a whole, were not forgotten in the most crucial part of Albany politics — doling out money.

“Dean has a proud legacy of returning taxpayer dollars to Long Island through increased state aid to education and community projects — especially in the 9th Senatorial District,” said Jeff Greenfield, a lifelong Rockville Centre resident and a longtime friend of Skelos’s.

Long Island is often overlooked in state politics. Much of the Assembly is made up of Democrats from New York City. And much of the time, they’re the ones setting the agenda in the state.

“Dean and his chamber looked out for the suburban interests,” said Kevin Law, president and CEO of the Long Island Association. “I think he was a fighter for our region on both big and small items.”