Lawrence Silverman, Democratic candidate for New York State Senate representing the Fifth Senatorial District, graduated from Stuyvesant High School and the State University of New York with a Regents College Scholarship. He was elected president of his law school and was a member of the Law Review. He founded a mentoring project at his alma mater, New York Law School, in which over 500 attorneys assist law students with their transition into the legal profession.

Silverman was never involved in party politics, but said he saw how the neglect of the Long Island Rail Road and lack of the MTA to be responsive to voters was really a failure of the political system and a failure of accountability.

In 1999, in his first run for public office, Silverman challenged the Suffolk County Democrats in a primary in which he won by 63 percent, but lost the election to Suffolk County Legislator Allan Binder in a close race.

Silverman joined the Huntington Town Democratic Committee where he chairs the membership committee. One of his goals is to increase public participation in the electoral process by reaching out for new committee members, particularly from the younger generations. This year the Town of Huntington Democratic Committee added 20 members to its rolls as a result of his efforts.

When, as a Long Island Rail Road commuter, he became disgusted with late and crowded trains, torn seats, putrid bathrooms and broken air conditioners, Silverman wrote to Suffolk County Executive Robert Gaffney, offering to serve on the LIRR Commuter's Council. Less than one year after Governor Cuomo appointed him and he was elected as the council's chairman in 1995.

In 1996, Silverman was appointed by Governor Pataki as Long Island's first representative to sit in a newly created commuter watchdog seat on the Board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. "I had no idea then that I would end up where I am today," said Silverman.

"I plan on being not only a Democratic state senator from Long Island, but a leader of my party on Long Island on the issues, such as fiscal reform, political reform and the campaign finance reforms that we need," said Silverman. He believes that as one of the only Democratic senators from Long Island, he could bring a new light into the Senate. "Many issues that have been ignored by the Republican state senator and there is a virtual monopoly of control on the state senate," said Silverman. "Although, there is a chance this year that we will have a Democratic majority for the first time in many years."

Silverman plans to take what he has learned in his position with the MTA to the State Senate. "I want to be a watchdog in the State Senate and I want to be a watchdog on Long Island the way I have been for commuters," said Silverman. "I want to expose when there is a political deal that stinks. I am going to take pride in being the one to expose it and not go along with the powers that be even if it means going against my party at times." Political reform and responsible fiscal reform are on the top of Silverman's agenda in addition to being a watchdog.

"I did not come up through the political system and my party has articulated a more responsible vision for the future than certainly the Republican Party has in Nassau County," said Silverman. "I am also prepared to go against my party when necessary. I want more voters to turn to us as the party of the future," said Silverman.

Silverman has many plans for when he arrives in Albany. "The first thing that I want to do when I get into Albany is to weigh in to the environmental side of the Brownfield legislation," said Silverman. "My opponent is holding it hostage because of his business interests. They are not going to put more money into the superfund now and I believe the superfund should have been replenished this year."

In regard to Nassau County's fiscal woes, Silverman said, "there is direct correlation between the lack of participation in the political process and the recent abuses of power by Nassau Republicans. Voters now realize that when one party is allowed to dominate, the system of checks and balances fails, political power concentrates, and abuse is almost inevitable. This is the moment for the Democratic Party to introduce good-government candidates to Long Islanders and to build on its recent successes."

In an issue closer to home, Silverman is strongly opposed to the proposed mall on the former Cerro Wire property in Syosset. "I am against the proposed mall for a number of reasons," said Silverman. "We do not need another mall and I am concerned about the environmental hazards." Silverman explained that the site was cleaned-up and capped under 1994 standards. "Before we build anything permanently, we need to clean it up to a standard to assure that no matter what is built or demolished in the next 200 years, we will not have to worry that those heavy metals are going to get into that groundwater," he said.

Silverman just moved his headquarters to Syosset in an office located at 5 Jackson Avenue. Silverman and his wife Brenda, who reside in Huntington, are expecting their first child shortly after the election.