Two vie for vacant city judge’s seat

With Long Beach City Court Judge Stanley Smolkin retiring, Frank Dikranis is running for his seat on the Republican ticket, and Scott Nigro will run as the Democratic candidate. Their bios are as follows:

Frank Dikranis

Frank Dikranis has maintained a general law practice on West Beech Street in Long Beach for the past 20 years. He has practiced in both the Federal and New York State Courts and has represented individual and corporate clients before a multitude of governmental agencies.

Before entering private practice, Dikranis operated two businesses in Long Beach from 1980 to 1986, and held a number of positions, including Nassau County assistant district attorney, in 1987 and 1988.

Previously, he worked for New York Telephone as an installer and repairman in 1966 and 1967, and joined the New York City Police Department as a trainee in 1967. He became a police officer in 1969 and detective in 1974, working in Queens, Manhattan and Brooklyn until he retired due to an injury suffering in the line of duty in 1979.

During his years with the NYPD, Dikranis made time to work on his undergraduate degree, and after seven years received his B.S. and graduated magna cum laude from the New York Institute of Technology in 1977. Likewise, while running his businesses, he attended Hofstra Law School and earned his law degree in 1987.

Dikranis is a member of the Nassau County Bar Association, president of the Long Beach Lawyers Association, and a member and counsel for the Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 17, the Board of Directors of the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Knights of Columbus, Detectives Endowment Association of the NYPD, New York State Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 100, the NYPD Emerald Society and the Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Long Island.

Dikranis lives in Long Beach with his wife Joyce, who retired as a detective after 20 years with the NYPD. He is the father of Luke, 21, who is in his last year at Virginia Tech, Maris, 20, a student at Nassau Community College, Brett, 19, a student at Buffalo State College and Kristi, 17, currently a high school senior.

Scott Nigro