Tuesday, Sept. 12 is Primary Day and there are two candidates running on the Democratic ticket to represent the 13th Assembly District in the New York State Assembly.

Incumbent Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove), who defeated David Sidikman in the 2004 Democratic Assembly primary, went on to win the position overwhelmingly in the general election.

Lavine had run on a platform of requiring on-time budgets, ending the state practice of taxing county property owners for the ever-increasing cost of Medicaid, greater state financial aid to public education and for the enactment of criminal laws that actually protected our citizens. Lavine had also demanded that the legislature adopt procedural reforms.

Lavine said he is pleased to have played a role in bringing about some important reforms in his first term in office, with New York enacting its first on-time budget in 2005. The year 2006 saw the enactment of a second consecutive timely budget. Lavine stated that other significant reforms were also enacted, citing the fact that Albany stopped charging county real property taxpayers for increased Medicaid expenses and adding that the state share of funding for public education increased dramatically.

Based on more than 30 years experience as a lawyer in the state and federal courts, Lavine said he was a strong voice in the Democratic Conference and the Assembly for passage of bills that were enacted into law ending the statute of limitations for rape and requiring that New York take DNA samples from convicts. His first term also saw the adoption of procedural changes he had fought for during his first campaign including the requirement of members of the Assembly to be present to vote on all bills, more public hearings being conducted and lobbyists being excluded from the Assembly chamber.

Lavine said he is especially proud of a bill he wrote and introduced that, if voted into law, will dramatically change the way our state criminal justice system functions. The bill imposes a mandatory consecutive five-year term to be imposed on a criminal who has a firearm or explosive device during the commission of any crime. This legislation could provide New York State law enforcement with valuable intelligence on the illegal networks that smuggle illegal weapons and could provide crucial intelligence needed to defeat gangs.

Lavine served as a public defender with the Legal Aid Society and was in private practice in New York City. He has served as counsel to the Glen Cove Industrial and Community Development Agencies, and as a member of the planning board and the city council. He said he is proud of his work on the city council where he voted in 2003 and 2004 to hold the line on property taxes. He was also general counsel for North Country Reform Temple.

Lavine is married to Ronnie, who teaches third grade at Connolly School. His children, Gregory and Andria both graduated from Glen Cove High School.

Kevin Langberg (D-Plainview) has stated that his decision to run for State Assembly was based on Lavine's legislative record of voting against the sales tax cap on gasoline, his support of Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi's LIE tax and his ineffectiveness concerning the re-assessment issue that is overwhelming the taxpayers of Nassau. Langberg noted that he would be an independent Democrat who represents all of the communities in the 13th AD.

As an employee of the Town of Oyster Bay Receiver of Taxes office, Langberg believes his firsthand knowledge and experience with these important issues provides the insight needed to represent the taxpayers' interest in Albany, stating "The level of frustration, anger and despair of the public being able to continue paying these taxes are forcing people in record numbers to abandon Long Island because of the failure of our county officials."

Langberg went on to say that he is concerned about the sharp increase of property taxes due to the annual re-assessment of homes that will continue to 2009. Langberg said, "[Nassau County] residents require tax relief in the form of tax stability; there is no reason to continue to re-assess. The current tax policy has established an unlevel playing field that is protecting special interest groups."

Langberg's governmental experience includes serving as a legislative assistant to then-State Assemblyman Lew Yevoli. He believes that having worked in Albany drafting legislation, representing the office and resolving constituent matters has prepared him to be an effective legislator who knows the issues, understands the needs of the communities and can assist residents with governmental problems.

Langberg is currently the chairman of the board of commissioners for the Plainview Water District. He was first elected to the position in 2005. As commissioner, Langberg is responsible for monitoring the quality of the district's water supply and making decisions regarding the district's budget and other fiscal matters.

A resident of Plainview for nearly 40 years, Langberg is a product of the Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District. He is married to Geralyn and the couple has one son, Alec.