Eramo to run for State Assembly

City Council Vice President Anthony Eramo formally announced his candidacy on May 24 for the open 20th Assembly District seat recently vacated by newly minted State Sen. Todd Kaminsky.

Eramo, a Democrat, previously ran for the seat in 2014, but dropped out of a Democratic primary and supported Kaminsky, who was elected that year.

Kaminsky went on to win the 9th Senate District race in a special election last month after former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos was convicted on corruption charges last year.

In a statement, Eramo pledged to fight for residents of the 20th Assembly District, which encompasses the Long Beach barrier island, Island Park, Oceanside, the Five Towns and parts of East Rockaway and Valley Stream.

“After a great deal of deliberation with my family, friends, and supporters, I have decided to run for Assembly,” he said. “The South Shore deserves a strong voice in Albany who will fight for good jobs, increased funding for our schools, and lower property taxes. We need to protect our suburban quality-of-life and our precious natural resources, and I will be that fighter. I've been proudly fighting on behalf of working families in Long Beach as a council member and for good jobs as a union member so I know I will be the advocate we deserve in Albany."

Nassau Democrats nominated Eramo at the party's convention at the Cradle of Aviation in Garden City on May 25.

"I am honored to have the endorsement of the Nassau County Democratic Committee and Chairman Jay Jacobs for New York State Assembly," Eramo said on Facebook. "The fact that they trust me to go to Albany and represent those interests is an honor."

Committee Chairman Jay Jacobs declined to comment on Tuesday when asked about Eramo's announcement. According to Newsday, he said that the Democratic candidates nominated on Wednesday will run on a platform of putting “Long Island first” for school aid and state funding.

Nassau Democrats also nominated City Councilwoman Eileen Goggin to run for Nassau County District Court judge for an open seat in Second District Court.