Re-elect Dave McDonough in the 14th Assembly District

In the race to for the State Assembly seat in the 14th District, longtime Assemblyman David McDonough, a Republican from North Merrick, faces not one but two challengers: Kevin Gorman, a Democrat from Wantagh, and Jake Gutowitz, a Libertarian, also from Wantagh.

After speaking with the candidates and hearing their takes on the issues, it’s clear to us that McDonough is the best choice, and we urge voters to re-elect him next Tuesday.

As a lifelong resident of North Merrick, McDonough has created strong bonds in the community, and has consistently worked for its best interests. His experience as president of both the Merrick Chamber of Commerce and the Nassau County Council of Chambers of Commerce have helped him connect with local business owners on a personal level, which ultimately influenced his recent advocacy for small business relief from Albany as the coronavirus pandemic drags on.

McDonough supported the Small Business Emergency Recovery Act, was one of the first officials to call for regional reopenings and partnered with Jump Start New York to advocate for small businesses in need of economic help.

McDonough told us that his greatest accomplishment in Albany was the extension of a state provision requiring private schools to report incidents of rape and sexual abuse. The legislation passed in part because of his ability to work across the aisle, and in his meeting with the Herald editorial board, he emphasized the importance of working with Democrats to get things done. In the current political climate, we couldn’t agree more.

McDonough’s district office is known for returning every call from his constituents, because, as he put it, “I am their employee.” He indicated that this would likely be his last term in office if he is re-elected — with nearly 20 years in Albany under his belt, he said it would soon be time to “move on” — but we’re confident that it will be a productive one. Residents would benefit from giving him another two years to continue advocating on their behalf.