'Outsider' takes on Albany 'insider'

In the 16th Assembly District, where there are 10,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans, challenger Scott Diamond has his work cut out for him as he attempts to unseat Democrat incumbent Michelle Schimel.

A political newcomer, Diamond, a paralegal, is running as an outsider and on the theme that Albany is broken, a popular campaign slogan in this election cycle.

"I am not a career politician," said Diamond, 31, a Republican, who is also running on the Conservative line. "If you elect new people, you get new leadership."

MTA tax No. 1 priority

His No. 1 priority, Diamond said, would be to work to repeal the controversial Metropolitan Transportation Authority payroll tax, which charges employers in the MTA's service region 34 cents for every $100 of payroll. Schimel, a Democrat from Great Neck, voted for the payroll surcharge.

Hoping to capture voters' anger with state lawmakers, Diamond tagged Schimel, 53, who also is running on the Independence and Working Families Party lines, as an Albany insider.

She has been in office since March 2007 when she won a special election for the seat vacated by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. Schimel, however, has been working in government since 1999, the year she was elected town clerk in North Hempstead.

Albany is not entirely broken, Schimel said, adding that the public's perception was shaped by two Democratic senators: Pedro Espada Jr. of the Bronx and Hiram Monserrate of Queens.

Espada staged a coup in 2009 and seized the Democratic leadership position as majority leader. Espada was defeated in the Democratic primary election this past September. Monserrate, who went along with Espada to form a coalition with the Republicans, later rejoined the Democrats. The State Senate in February expelled Monserrate after he was convicted of assaulting his then-girlfriend.

"Have we had dysfunction, yeah," Schimel said. "We have knuckleheads who were there - they're gone."

Schimel graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and worked as physical therapist for North Shore University Hospital before running for public office. She became interested in public service after she worked as a grassroots advocate on gun violence prevention.

Born on Staten Island, Diamond graduated from the College of Staten Island with a bachelor's degree in political science. He had worked as an intern for New York State and in former Gov. George Pataki's administration.

Diamond works as a private contractor for the United States Department of Justice in its antitrust division.

Guns, waste and jobs

Schimel's signature legislation from day one has been getting rid of illegal guns and keeping firearms out of the wrong hands, she said. Her micro-stamping legislation, which requires some handguns to have shell case imprinting technology, did not pass the state Democratic-controlled Senate. However, she promised to introduce the bill again if elected.

She touted her work to prevent electronic waste, such as cell phones and computers, from ending up in landfills, and help bring 300 jobs, mostly in construction, to her district. Schimel co-sponsored a bill that allowed the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point to secure bonding, which enables the school to build classrooms and dormitories.

Concierge for businesses

To keep businesses from fleeing Long Island, Schimel would like to create a central place where businesses can go for help. Similar to when tourists need help in finding a restaurant or tickets to a Broadway show, they ask a hotel concierge.

"I want a concierge for business for Long Island," she said.

Diamond, if elected, promised to restore the New York State School Tax Relief Program, commonly known as the STAR program, which aimed at reducing school property taxes. He also vouched to put a cap on state spending and a cap of property tax levy.

MTA board members, Diamond said, need to be held accountable for how they spend the public's money, and he promised to call for a complete and comprehensive audit of the agency's books.

"I will freeze all MTA layoffs. I will freeze any sort of MTA fare increases, and service cuts," Diamond said.

Diamond supports a move to a 401(k)-style pension for public employees while Schimel opposes it.

She said that recently enacted legislation which made certain changes to the pension system, including a requirement that all public employees contribute 3 percent of annual salary to their pensions, is sufficient.

Diamond said he contributes to his pension, therefore public employees should do the same.