Herald Endorsement

Venditto’s our choice in the 8th S.D. 

Posted

The Herald endorses Nassau County Legislator Michael Venditto, a Republican from Massapequa, in the 8th Senate District race.

Technically, Venditto is running unopposed. The seat became vacant in January, when Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr. resigned to become chief executive officer of the Alzheimer’s Foundation, and it has remained so ever since. Venditto was locked in a heated battle for the seat until his opponent, County Legislator David Denenberg, a Democrat from Merrick, was forced to drop out of the race. Denenberg’s former law firm fired him in June and then filed a civil suit against him in late September, claiming that he defrauded a client of $2.3 million. The firm also referred the matter to the U.S.
attorney’s office for possible criminal prosecution.

Denenberg’s name remains on the ballot, despite his withdrawal from the race, meaning that he could still win election to the Senate. Democrats could not find another candidate to replace him after the lawsuit was filed, and it appears that he is still campaigning.

Rather than lay low after the scandal, as is a politician’s usual course of action, Denenberg has made numerous appearances in his legislative district, the 19th, helping to cut the ribbon on new artificial-turf football fields, holding community meetings and greeting folks at community events.

Denenberg has been a friend to the 19th District since taking office in 1999. He was among the most promising candidates in this year’s election. Given the charges against him, however, we cannot endorse him. He is innocent until proven guilty in a 
court of law, but the charges are serious, and cast a cloud of suspicion over him. Albany needs trustworthy lawmakers.

Venditto is a former Town of Hempstead deputy attorney and the son of Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto. At 33, he is young. Because of his family’s political background, however, he appears well schooled in the responsibilities that come with public service. We like him; he is affable, well-spoken and thoughtful.

He is also moderate in his views. He was the only Republican among the candidates we interviewed to state for the record that he opposes hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in New York. He said he believes that the technology, in which chemicals are injected into the ground to unlock natural gas deep within the earth, has not been proven safe.

We would have preferred that Venditto have more Nassau County legislative experience before seeking higher office — he was first elected in 2012 — but he is the only logical choice in this race, and we encourage voters to elect him on Tuesday.