Kaminsky gets the nod for State Assembly

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“Inside Long Beach, Rob got all the votes,” said Long Beach Democratic Committee Chairman Mike Zapson, who was re-elected chairman at the convention. “I like Rob because he’s a lifelong Democrat … he’s familiar with the district and best suits the district. I think he’ll do the best job out of all of them. And I think people are going to reject outside interests coming into the district to control who the assemblyman is.”

In 2005, Solomon ran unsuccessfully against County Legislator Denise Ford, a Long Beach Republican. Solomon, a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Duke Law School, and a former vice president of the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, said that Sandy was a major factor in his decision to run. He and his wife were displaced for six months after their Blackheath Road home was damaged.

“It will take somebody who can advocate for the needs of our people, work with the Democratic majority in Albany and cut through the bureaucratic red tape to restore our community,” he told the Herald last month.

For his part, Eramo, 40, said that he withdrew his name from consideration at the Democratic Committee’s convention, saying that its official endorsement was “predetermined.” Eramo said that he has gathered enough signatures on petitions to get on the primary ballot, and decided to let “the people of the 20th Assembly District speak through a Democratic primary.”

“I’m confident that with the support of the people, I can run a successful campaign,” he said.

Eramo — a field technician for Verizon and a former lobbyist and political director for his union, the Communications Workers of America 1104 — was endorsed by the Working Families Party last Saturday, the same day the group endorsed Governor Andrew Cuomo. He also received the backing of the Long Island Progressive Coalition last Friday.

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