Nick Guariglia to run for 16th Assembly District seat

The Democratic race for the 16th Assembly District has former and current North Hempstead Town Hall insiders vying for the seat.

North Hempstead Deputy Chief of Staff Nick Guariglia on Monday formed a campaign committee to run for the 16th Assembly District, state filings show. Guariglia, 31, of Port Washington, joins Andrew DeMartin, 50, who resigned last month as the town’s public safety commissioner, as Democratic contenders for the seat being vacated by Assemb. Michelle Schimel (D-Port Washington).

DeMartin is a past commissioner of the Manhasset-Lakeville Water District and was chief of the Great Neck Vigilant Fire Company.

Guariglia has worked as a deputy chief of staff for the minority at the Nassau County Legislature and served as campaign manager to Supervisor Judi Bosworth, according to his LinkedIn page. When he was 23 in 2007, Guariglia ran an unsuccessful campaign against then-County Legislator Edward Mangano, the current county executive.

DeMartin said last month he was leaving his $118,000-a-year town job to pursue the campaign full time.

The open contest has sparked townwide interest in the seat Schimel has held since 2007. Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, a Democrat from Great Neck Plaza, held the seat before her.

By Scott Eidler

scott.eidler@newsday.com@ScottEidler

Scott Eidler is a deputy editor for the towns department at Newsday. Scott has worked at Newsday since 2012 and previously covered municipal government and education.