Dem mounts write-in bid for N.Y. Senate

Suffolk Legis. Ricardo Montano, with more than two weeks left until the state's petition deadline, said he has already gathered more than the 1,000 signatures needed to qualify as a Democratic candidate for the State Senate ballot.

Montano, a Central Islip Democrat, is seeking to challenge veteran GOP Sen. Owen Johnson (R-West Babylon), against whom Suffolk Democratic chairman Richard Schaffer has put up no Democratic opponent. Montano said he expects to have more than enough signatures to rebuff any challenges. "We got all these signatures by knocking on people's doors," he said.

-- Rick Brand