By:Jeff Lipton
A lawyer from Hewlett Harbor has been asked to consider running in November as the Republican challenger against Nassau County Legis. Jeff Toback (D-Oceanside), according to sources.
Christopher McGrath, a 17-year trial lawyer in a firm specializing in personal injury and medical malpractice, has been tapped as the potential Republican nominee in an attempt to unseat Toback, a lawyer who two years ago defeated the Legislature's presiding officer, Bruce Blakeman, in a stunner. The party's slate of nominees will be announced during the Nassau County Republican Convention, which begins Thursday night, May 24, at Wisdom Lane Middle School in Levittown.
Contacted last Friday at his Mineola-based law firm, Sullivan, Papain, Block, McGrath and Cannavo, McGrath would not comment on speculation that he was asked to run for the Legislature. If he did run, it would be McGrath's first attempt at elective office. He has no other experience in politics, either.
"I never had a political job in my life," McGrath once said. "I don't need it."
Anthony Santino, a Hempstead Town councilman and Republican leader of East Rockaway, also would not comment on a possible McGrath candidacy. "We are not prepared to announce our candidates at this time." But, he added, "we plan to field a very strong candidate (for the 7th Legislative District)."
Toback said he also has heard that McGrath was asked by the Republican Party to take a shot at unseating him. The incumbent Democrat said he never heard of McGrath before this, but would not underestimate McGrath if, in fact, he did challenge Toback in the district that takes in Oceanside, Island Park, Bay Park and the Five Towns.
"I'm sure if he is going to run, he is going to make a tough opponent and I'm not going to take anyone lightly," Toback said. "Two years ago, I'm sure no one heard of me."
Toback shocked the local Republican machine when he upset Blakeman, who was cited numerous times as a rising star in the political party and was on the road for even higher office. Critics of Toback's victory said his timing was right, as Blakeman took much of the blame for the fiscal mess of the county, even though he tried desperately to distance himself from County Executive Thomas Gulotta and the financial crisis.
Still reeling from the county elections two years ago, which tipped the balance of power in favor of the Democrats, the Republicans' ideal choice to regain the 7th district may be McGrath. With no political background, McGrath will be portrayed by the party as not being a part of the political machinery, but a person who is entrenched in the community and its activities.
McGrath, 42, a registered Republican who grew up in Inwood and graduated from Lawrence High School, St. John's University and University of Dayton, is a distinguished past president of Peninsula Kiwanis, creating the organization's foundation for underprivileged and handicapped children. He also is past chairman of the bipartpisan Judiciary Committee for the Nassau County Bar Association. In addition, he is the instructor of trial techniques at Hofstra Law School and is listed in Who's Who of American Law. He is also a former coach of the Inwood Buccaneers football team and a travel coach for the Hewlett-Lawrence Soccer Club and a member of its board of directors. In addition, he is an adviser to the Lawrence High School Mock Trial Team.
But McGrath is most known locally for supporting and befriending Jermaine Ewell, a black Lawrence High School student and standout athlete who was severely beaten with baseball bats on the Atlantic Beach boardwalk by a mob of five whites in June 1991. All five attackers were arrested, and the only one still in prison is Shannon Siegel, who is serving a term of 7 to 21 years. McGrath represented Ewell in a civil case and helped him win a $35-million judgment.
"I do things for the right reason," said McGrath, who spoke at a Lawrence Middle School symposium on the lessons of hate and accepted no fee, because, he said, he wanted to help out the kids.
