Former Suffolk prosecutor Anthony Palumbo of New Suffolk has been tapped as the GOP candidate for the assembly seat vacated by Dan Losquadro upon his election in March as Brookhaven highway superintendent, Suffolk County Republican chairman John Jay LaValle announced this afternoon.
“The governor has chosen to let the people of the [Second] Assembly District go unrepresented for eight months,” LaValle said, referring to the governor’s decision not to hold a special election to fill the vacancy. “We need to elect a person who, when elected, can hit the ground running and address the residents needs. Anthony Palumbo is that person,” LaValle said.
“Tony’s experience as a county prosecutor makes him uniquely qualified, considering the recent corruption scandals in the State Legislature. The assembly will need to enact strong anti-corruption and ethics measures in the upcoming session.”
LaValle praised Palumbo as “a strong voice” who will battle corruption in Albany.
“The Suffolk County Republican Committee wants to make its position on government corruption clear, and the selection of Tony Palumbo sends Albany a strong message,” LaValle said in the news release.
Palumbo hold a B.A. in government and law from Lafeyette College and a J.D. from St. John’s Law School, according to the GOP announcement. He was a Suffolk County assistant district attorney from 1998 to 2004, LaValle said.
“During that time he tried hundreds of cases and was assigned to the East End Bureau as the trial supervisor overseeing the prosecution of all crimes in the five eastern-most towns,” the news release said.
Palumbo is a partner in the law firm of Goggins and Palumbo in Mattituck. He and his wife Tracy reside in New Suffolk with their children, Ryan, age 9, and Madeline, 5.
Democrats have yet to choose an assembly nominee. There are six candidates seeking the nomination: Jim Waters, a Cutchogue winery owner and former Manorville fire commissioner; Jennifer Maertz, a Rocky Point attorney who has twice lost bids for State Senate; Tom Schiliro, a Suffolk park police officer from Manorville; Pat Snyder, of Jamesport, the executive director of East End Arts; and attorneys John McManmon and Ron Hariri, both of Aquebogue.
The Brookhaven, Riverhead and Southold town committees are voting on their choices at their respective conventions, all scheduled within the next week. Riverhead’s Democratic party convention is set for tonight, beginning at 7 p.m.
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