Thursday, October 1, 2026
Democrat Michael Gionesi, a lifelong Bellmore resident and a first-time political candidate, says his run for the seat in Nassau County’s 12th Legislative District is motivated by a sense of duty to his community rather than political ambition.
“I got a phone call asking me to run, and I answered the call and said yes,” he said. “It kind of felt like a good time to serve to some degree.”
A graduate of SUNY Farmingdale and a former college baseball player, Gionesi went on to earn a law degree with honors, and now serves as a principal law clerk in the New York State Unified Court System, focusing on matrimonial and family law.
His career, he said, shaped his understanding of people and their challenges. “I figured, what better way to serve people than helping them through a very raw, emotional time during their lives?” he said, explaining that his work in family court helped solidify his passion for community service.
As he campaigns in the 12th District — which encompasses North Bellmore, North Merrick, Bellmore, Merrick, and parts of Wantagh and Freeport — Gionesi said he is focused on addressing the issues that affect residents most deeply. Chief among them is reopening the Safe Center, Nassau County’s only agency dedicated to helping victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, which closed earlier this year.
He called its closure a critical loss for residents in crisis.
“It shouldn’t be a Democratic issue. It shouldn’t be a Republican issue,” Gionesi said. “It should be a matter of common decency and a matter of common sense.”
He also emphasized the need to distribute more of the county’s opioid settlement funds, which he says total over $100 million but have largely remained unspent. Citing his experience as a family law attorney, Gionesi said he has seen how addiction tears families apart and that the funds should be used for treatment and prevention.
“Addiction can affect anybody,” he said. “Those people need help and they deserve it. That’s what that money is there for.”
In addition to social services and addiction prevention, Gionesi said he is committed to keeping property taxes low, supporting small businesses and protecting county retirees’ health benefits. He said he views local economic stability and affordability as fundamental to community well-being.
He also pointed to the importance of bipartisanship and collaboration if he is elected to the Legislature, which currently has a Republican majority. He compared political cooperation to his work in family law, where compromise and communication often yield the best outcomes.
“Whether you’re Republican, Democrat or independent, the person I’m running against is not my enemy,” he said. “You can’t view people in the Legislature as your enemies, because that doesn’t engender work product that will best serve my constituents.”
Ultimately, Gionesi said, he wants voters to see him as an honest and approachable public servant focused squarely on their needs.
“With me, what you see is what you’re going to get,” he said. “The job’s not about me. It’s about them — the people I represent and the people I’m in charge of protecting.”
