Meet The Candidate: Charles Lavine For NYS Assembly, 13th District

LONG ISLAND, NY — Long Island residents will be heading to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Ahead of Election Day, Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaign — and the results will be published as candidate profiles in the days leading up to the vote.

Charles "Chuck" Lavine is running for re-election as a Member of the New York State Assembly, 13th District, on the Democratic line, against challenger Conner Phillip Dunleavy, who is running on the Republican and Conservative lines.

The 13th Assembly District encompasses many towns in Nassau County, including Bayville, Brookville, Centre Island, Cove Neck, East Hills, Glen Cove, Glen Head, Glenwood Landing, Greenvale, Hicksville, Jericho, Lattingtown, Mill Neck, Mineola, New Cassel, Old Westbury, Oyster Bay, Oyster Bay Cove, Plainview, Roslyn, Roslyn Harbor, Sea Cliff, Salisbury, Syosset, Westbury, and Woodbury.

Name

Charles Lavine

How old will you be as of Election Day?

79

Does your campaign have a website?

Chucklavine.com

What city or town do you live in?

Glen Cove

What office are you seeking?

New York State Assembly

If you are running in a district, you can specify the district here.

13th. Assembly District

Party affiliation.

Democrat

Education

University of Wisconsin, New York Law School

What is your occupation?

Legislator, lawyer

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.

Married to Ronnie Lavine, retired public school educator and proud member of Board of Directors for Planned Parenthood of Greater New York Political Action Fund. 2 adult children and 4 grandchildren.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

Yes

Now we'd like to ask a few questions about your reasons for running for election and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you seeking this office?

We need responsible and pragmatic people in public office who will not be intimidated.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing constituents is:

Constituents are frightened by chaos caused by Trump’s unstable and unpredictable policies, resulting in great harm to our economy and to our communities.

What needs to be done to address water quality issues on LI?

I have consistently driven State funding for aquifer protection and believe we need greater cooperation and communication between our municipalities and water districts in both Nassau and Suffolk to coordinate safeguarding

What do you think can be done to help improve our infrastructure, highways, etc.?

I have consistently fought for State funding to maintain and protect infrastructure. This is a national problem requiring federal funding.

How would you plan to help local business owners, who are struggling because of high rents, inflation, and labor shortages?

As one-time counsel to both a Community Development Agency and an Industrial Development Agency, and as a Member of the Glen Cove City Council and as an Assemblymember, I have fought for responsible development, including transit-oriented development and Smart Growth concepts, and have driven millions of dollars to municipalities and school districts to ease property tax burdens and have fought to reduce New York’s income tax to a historically low level. Have fully supported Governor Hochul’s funding for Downtown Revitalizations.

How are federal issues impacting local government?

Bizarre federal policies adversely impact local and state government. Long Island’s economy and the safety of our neighborhoods are harmed by heavy and ham-handed immigration policies. Trump’s healthcare policies robbed our State of billions of dollars.

What is your stance on how ICE enforcement has impacted local communities?

ICE enforcement is out of control. Long island’s economy has been damaged and far too many of our neighbors and their families live in fear.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

As Assembly judiciary Committee Chair, I am dedicated to assisting our Courts to fulfill their purpose and have been appointed by Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie to the task force addressing the so-called voluntary intoxication loophole in our rape laws. My focus on legislation helping to combat veteran suicide will continue. I will continue to make our communities more affordable and for adequate funding for public education.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

My legislative history includes authoring the Early Voting system in New York when I chaired the Elections Law Committee, authoring and helping to pass the Scott J Beigel Unfinished Receiver Act making ghost guns illegal in New York and as Judiciary Chair directing the impeachment investigation into a former governor. As Ethics Committee Chair I wrote the model Speaker Policy on Sexual Harassment, Retaliation and Discrimination and forced violators out of public office.

For us to succeed as an American democracy, we must all stand together.

What is the best advice anyone has ever given you and why?

Four quotes: From Churchill, “democracy is the worst form of government except for every other form of government that has ever been tried;” from Jacob Burkhardt, “The denial of complexity is the essence of tyranny;” from General George S. Patton, “Fear is the worst counsel;” and from john Locke, “Where law ends tyranny begins.”