EDITORIAL: Newsday's endorsement in the 15th Assembly District

Republican Michael Montesano has spent just eight months in Albany, which may explain why he says he's still enjoying it. He won the seat in a special election in February.

Montesano, 55, of Glen Head, has climbed the learning curve quickly, having passed four bills to help the district, including one to establish a library district in Brookville and another authorizing the Village of Matinecock to use parks reserve funds to restore Planting Fields Road. He favors a property tax cap of 2 percent to 3 percent, along with a spending cap for Albany, municipalities and school districts.

His challenger, Democrat Leon Hart, 47, of Westbury, senior lawyer for the City of Yonkers, is making his first run for office. While he also favors a property tax cap, he believes a spending cap would need exceptions for certain categories - which may remove too many of its teeth. He's smart and dedicated, and he should stay active in politics. But Montesano has earned the chance to serve his first full term.

Newsday endorses Montesano.