Charles D. Lavine, Assembly 13th District

CHARLES D. LAVINE

Democratic

BACKGROUND: Lavine, 71, of Glen Cove is running on the Democratic, Working Families, Women's Equality Agenda, Reform party lines. He was elected to the Assembly in 2004 having previously served on the Glen Cove City Council. He is chairman of the Assembly committee on election law and serves on the ethics, health, codes, insurance and judiciary committees. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin and his law degree from New York Law School. He is president of the New York chapter of the National Association of Jewish Legislators and is on the board of directors for the Nassau County Jewish Lawyers Association. He is married with two adult children.

ISSUES: Lavine said the biggest issue facing his district is how to protect the environment and water supply. Lavine said he wants state funds directed toward building sewers on Long Island and wants to see requirements that new development on Long Island have sewers. “Sewer systems are much better for the environment than septic systems,” Lavine said. He also said the aquifers need to be protected from saltwater infiltration. “We have to be environmentally vigilant to protect our barriers between the land that surrounds the aquifers and the ocean and the sound,” Lavine said. Public transportation such as light rail or bus lines running north and south are needed to reduce the number of automobiles on the road, he said. “There has to be a way for people to be able to get from the North Shore and the South Shore to the main rail lines which run central to Long Island,” he said. Lavine called for gun control legislation to be enacted that would allow firearms to be removed from people “who are in danger to themselves or others” following a report by law enforcement and a court order. “It will protect our lives and the lives of our children,” Lavine said.