Greater affordability, water quality and funding for the 12th Assembly District are top priorities for Craig Herskowitz, the Democratic candidate for the seat.
The district includes Northport and Huntington south as well as Deer Park and North Bay Shore. Incumbent Republican Keith Brown is not seeking re-election, after representing the district since 2020. Republican Dave Weber Jr. is running against Herskowitz.
A Northport resident, Herskowitz, 45, is an immigration attorney. His résumé includes service with the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. In 2019 he was appointed assistant counsel to the governor and served as a New York City administrative law judge.
Herskowitz said that his experience, and particularly his work in the governor’s office, has prepared him for state government, especially when it comes to the budget and the rights of his constituents amid the raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“My focus is making sure that we get our fair share of funds, and I already have commitments from leadership to make sure that we finally do get our fair share of funds,” he said.
Herskowitz made the claim that his communities, especially Deer Park, have been “ignored for years,” and he said that the major thoroughfare Deer Park Avenue, in particular, is in desperate need of revitalization.
“I’m looking to identify projects and programs in the area that have been ignored and bring out funding for the roads and the schools,” he said. “We have very high property taxes — If we get more state dollars for our schools, it will alleviate the property tax burden.”
Water quality is also a key concern in Herskowitz’s campaign, and he supports expansion of the sewer district into other areas of the district. “The water is a big issue,” he said. “We have nitrates, microplastics and forever chemicals going into the water. It’s really bad.”
That’s why, Herskowitz said, he believes the sewer system is so important, and that expanding it would help remove nitrates from the water. He also linked the sewer system to affordability, stating that its expansion would allow for the building of more affordable housing. He added that renewable energy, and battery storage for solar and wind power, are essential.
Addressing ICE concerns, Herskowitz said that the 12th district, in particular, has been impacted, and that with his legal background, he would make sure that constituents know their rights. Local law enforcement should not cooperate with ICE, he said, unless the agency has a judicial warrant.
“The minority portion of my district has a large Hispanic population, and these are the communities that are really feeling the pressures of ICE raids,” Herskowitz said. “People are scared — they’re seeing that their neighbors are being picked up at 7-Eleven, grocery stores and bus stations and being held in ICE detention for months before they even get to see a judge, and it’s really cruel and unnecessary.”
He said that part of his campaign effort involves going into those communities and showing his support, knocking on doors and encouraging all to come out and vote and let their voices be heard.
“I’m always about integrity and doing what’s right,” Herskowitz said, “and we’re going to make sure our communities are protected.”
