State Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel (D-Great Neck) announced last Thursday she will not seek re-election this November to represent the 16th Assembly District.
“The Assembly is the best job I have ever had,” Schimel said in a statement. “I am leaving in love with a great institution — ‘The People’s House’. It has been a privilege to serve my wonderful, enlightened, and engaged Assembly district. I look forward to the next chapter in my life.”
Schimel was first elected to the state Assembly in March 2007 after defeating Republican Ryan DeCicco in a special election, receiving 86 percent of the votes.
She replaced Thomas DiNapoli, who the state Legislature selected as state Comptroller that year.
Currently serving her fifth term in office, Schimel said she plans to serve out her term, which ends Dec. 31.
The 16th district includes Great Neck, New Hyde Park, Port Washington, Manhasset, Williston Park, North Hills, East Hills, Old Westbury and a portion of Roslyn Estates.
Prior to serving on the state Assembly, Schimel served as North Hempstead Town Clerk for seven years.
Originally born in Brooklyn, she has been a Great Neck resident since 1982.
Schimel served on the New Yorkers Against Gun Violence board for more than two decades and in 1995 co-founded the organization’s Long Island chapter with former U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-Garden City).
Throughout her political career, she was heavily involved with various other gun safety organizations.
In 2012, Schimel was elected co-chair of state Legislators Against Illegal Guns, a bipartisan group of more than 50 current and former members of the state Assembly and Senate.
She went on to become a member of the American State Legislators For Gun Violence Prevention in 2014, which is a 200-member group of state legislators from all 50 states focused on gun violence protection.
Jim Gounaris, a Herricks school board trustee and Manhasset Hills resident, commended Schimel’s role assisting school district needs.
“As APPR and Common Core and all this extra testing came down from the state, she became a real advocate for the school districts, the school boards, the students and their families with regards to the excess strain both financially, physically and educationally that it was putting on everyone,” Gounaris said.
While he has not made a decision yet, Gounaris said, he was considering running for Schimel’s seat.
“We’re seriously contemplating it and what it would mean with our family,” he said. “It would be an honor to fill that seat and continue to carry the torch that Michelle carved out for the Town of North Hempstead and the neighborhoods and families that she represented so wonderfully.”
“They are tremendous shoes for whoever runs for the seat to fill,” Gounaris added.
Nicole Duckham, chief of staff of Schimel’s office, said Schimel had no immediate plans after her term ends in December.
Schimel’s announcement comes two days after U.S. Rep. Steve Israel (D-Melville) announced he would not seek re-election to Congress this November.
There has been speculation as to who would replace Israel, with Town of North Hempstead Councilwoman Anna Kaplan (D-Great Neck) announcing her candidacy Monday.
Democrats have also named Suffolk County Legislator Steve Stern (D-Dix Hills) and state Assemblyman Charles Levine (D-Glen Cove) as possible replacements, according to a Newsday report.
First-time Republican candidate Lt. Col. David “Bull” Gurfein, a Great Neck native, announced his candidacy to replace Israel in a news release Wednesday afternoon.
State Sen. Jack Martins (R-Mineola) said he was forming an exploratory committee to determine if he could raise the money necessary to run for Israel’s seat.
Duckham said Schimel had no interest in running for Congress.
