Town of North Hempstead Public Safety Commissioner Andrew DeMartin filed Wednesday with the state Board of Elections to run for the state Assembly’s 16th district seat, making him the first candidate to step forward following state Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel’s announcement last week she would not run for re-election.
“Anybody that knows me, the first thing they’ll tell you is I’m always available. My door is always open,” DeMartin said. “I answer constituents needs here at the town. I work for the people. I feel like I’ve always worked for the people and I want to continue working for the people.”
DeMartin, a Democrat living in an unincorporated area of Great Neck, began working for the town in December 2010, heading the Office of Emergency Management, town security, harbor security, code enforcement, parking enforcement, animal control and the Port Washington parking district.
He is also director of the town’s harbor and chairman of the lighthouse committee.
DeMartin served as a commissioner for the Manhasset-Lakeville Water & Fire District from 2008 to 2013.
Beginning in 1993, he moved up the ranks of the Great Neck Vigilant Fire Company until 1997, when he became chief.
Demartin also served as chairman of the Nassau County Fire Marshal’s Commission, overseeing the county’s fire marshal’s budgets and implementing policies for fire services and training.
If elected, he said, he wanted to preserve and improve the district’s water resources.
“The one I have been fighting the hardest for has been clean water. Drinking water is a valuable resource,” DeMartin said. “We need to be cautious with our drinking water.”
He also said he wanted to improve coastline infrastructure, which has declined in recent years.
“Infrastructure on the coastline has become deteriorated, allowing a lot of sediment to come into the areas of Manhasset Bay and Hempstead Harbor,” DeMartin said. “I think we need to build infrastructure without losing identity on Long Island.”
While most of his experience is in community and quality-of-life services, he said he understands the importance of education because his wife is a teacher.
DeMartin added that education would be a focus of his should he be elected.
“The teaching industry has changed. The way things are taught has changed. I see it as a husband at home everyday,” he said. “I know education needs the support from the Assembly, but also from the Senate and Governor as well. We need to support public education.”
After Schimel announced on Jan. 7 she would not seek re-election, DeMartin said the news was “shocking.”
He said the two worked together on many projects to receive funding for water and fire district initiatives, as well as for firefighter and fire truck safety.
Over the years of working together with state Sen. Jack Martins (R-Mineola), DeMartin said, the two developed a friendship.
“I almost feel an emotional loss that shes moving on,” he said. “She’s a personal friend of mine.”
“She’s an unbelievable energetic political leader,” DeMartin added.
Unlike the influx of candidates who came forward following U.S. Rep. Steve Israel’s announcement he would not be seeking re-election to Congress, things have been more quiet on who would attempt to replace Schimel in the state Assembly.
Herricks school board trustee Jim Gounaris said last week he was “seriously contemplating” running to represent the 16th Assembly district, though he has not made a decision yet.
DeMartin is the second town Democrat to announce his intent to run for a higher office, with Town Councilwoman Anna Kaplan announcing Monday she would run for Israel’s seat.
