Candidates for Assembly seat spar over qualifications

In principle, Lauren Thoden and L. Dean Murray agree a lot: Both say Long Island needs to attract new jobs and help keep businesses from moving off the Island.

The candidates for the vacant Third Assembly District seat also agree that school taxes are too high and the MTA payroll tax is too burdensome.

Where Thoden, a Democrat, and Murray, a Republican, disagree is the subject of each other's qualifications.

Murray called Thoden a product of the Democratic machine that he said has mismanaged state finances in Albany. Thoden said Murray's "claims of not being a politician" are "simply untrue."

Voters will have the final say in Tuesday's special election, which became necessary Jan. 1 when former Assemb. Patricia Eddington became Brookhaven Town clerk.

The election will not have a major impact on the makeup of the State Assembly, where the Democratic conference holds a 107-39 advantage. But Murray said the race could be a preview of the November general election, when he predicts heavy turnover.

"A year ago people were scared. Now they are angry," he said. "They feel like no one is looking out for them."

Thoden said voters will elect the candidate more likely to deliver on tax relief, regardless of party affiliation.

"It's a matter of people being forced off the Island," she said.

Murray, 45, is a Maryland native who moved to East Patchogue in 2008 after living in Coram for 14 years. He owns D&S Advertising, a Medford company that publishes advertising magazines.

Like Thoden, Murray has never held elected office. He said his business experience should attract voters.

"I've paid the MTA tax, I didn't just hear about the MTA tax," Murray said, adding that the tax cost his business about $600. "I've experienced all these things. No disrespect, but she hasn't."

Thoden, 27, a Blue Point native, is an attorney who lives in Patchogue. She earned her law degree from Hofstra University last year and is taking a leave of absence from her job as a clerk for Justice Leonard B. Austin of the State Supreme Court Appellate Division.

Thoden served as an aide to Eddington, whose husband, Suffolk County Legis. Jack Eddington (I-Medford), defeated Murray by 364 votes last year to keep his seat.

Thoden described Murray as a political opportunist who moved to East Patchogue because he thought he could defeat Jack Eddington. Murray disputed that as "ridiculous."

Thoden said, "My opponent is saying he's not a politician but I think the record speaks for itself."

Both candidates are in the midst of aggressive door-knocking campaigns with similar themes: Both say state legislators need to work to bring more education funding to Long Island and to help small businesses grow.

Democrats chose Thoden as their candidate last month, while Republicans tapped Murray in December.

With so little time to campaign, the race has become "the political equivalent of running the 100-yard dash," said Brookhaven Democratic chairman Jon Schneider.

Murray had raised $58,483 and Thoden had raised $24,915 as of Jan. 29, according to state records.

The winner of the race, like all New York State Assembly members, will make $79,500 per year, not including stipends. The district has 77,448 voters, including 25,731 Republicans, 25,343 Democrats and 19,760 who list no affiliation.

L. Dean Murray

HOME East Patchogue
AGE 45
OCCUPATION Owner,
D&S Advertising
PARTY Republican
BACKGROUND Maryland native and former Coram resident. No elected experience.
FUNDRAISING Raised more than $58,000 as of Jan. 29.

Lauren Thoden

HOME Patchogue
AGE 27
OCCUPATION Attorney
PARTY Democrat
BACKGROUND Law degree from Hofstra University. On leave from her job as clerk to a state Supreme Court Appellate Division justice. Ex-Suffolk legislative aide. No elected experience.
FUNDRAISING: Raised more than $24,000 as of Jan. 29