NEW YORK – Today, all 6 Republican New York State Assembly Members from Nassau County, Michael Durso, David McDonough, John Mikulin, Missy Miller, Michael Montesano and Edward Ra, endorsed Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1), who has been named the presumptive nominee by both the New York Republican and Conservative Parties, for Governor of New York.
Assemblyman Michael Durso said, “New Yorkers are being beaten down by the policies coming out of Albany. Dwindling government support for our police, small businesses, and hardworking taxpayers are driving New Yorkers out of the state. I’m proudly endorsing Congressman Lee Zeldin for governor because he will reverse Albany’s trend of forcing people out of New York and Lee will work tirelessly to revitalize our state.”
Assemblyman David G. McDonough said, “One-party control of our state has pushed through a radical agenda that is forcing New Yorkers to flee. Congressman Lee Zeldin is a battle-tested leader who has proven that his number one priority in office is serving the people he represents, and I know he will do right by all of us.”
Assemblyman John Mikulin said, “New York is hemorrhaging our residents at an alarming rate. Our leaders in Albany have failed New Yorkers up and down the state. We need Lee Zeldin now more than ever to help rebuild our economy, fight for working families, repeal cashless bail, and keep our streets safe.”
Assemblywoman Missy Miller said, “Leaders are supposed to be people who demonstrate the qualities that others can look up to and seek to emulate. Instead, for over a decade New York had a leader who was surrounded by scandals and corruption. The coverup of a deadly nursing home order that resulted in thousands of deaths of our society’s most vulnerable, a multi-million dollar book deal, and countless stories of harassment and abuse are just business as usual in Albany. This has to change. To reverse this tide of corruption in our government, we need to elect an honest leader like Congressman Lee Zeldin whose uncompromising morals will once again lead New York down the right path and restore honor and integrity to our government.”
Assemblyman Michael Montesano said, “Scandal after scandal and bad policy after bad policy, so many New Yorkers have lost faith in their government. We are in desperate need of new leadership. Lee Zeldin is a Congressman, soldier, and family man who has shown both in and out of Congress he has the strength, fortitude and character to turn our state around.”
Assemblyman Edward Ra said, “It’s the government’s solemn duty to protect the people it represents, yet Albany has managed to do the opposite. Radical far-left policies like cashless bail and the promotion of dangerous ideas like defunding the police have wrought nothing but pain and suffering on our communities. New York needs a leader who unquestionably stands by our law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line every single day to keep us safe. Lee Zeldin is a leader who will always have the backs of the brave men and women in blue. His pro-law enforcement and anti-crime policies will put an end to this recent crime wave and keep our police and communities safe.”
Assembly Members Jake Ashby, Karl Brabenec, Majorie Byrnes, Joe DeStefano, David DiPietro, Chris Friend, Jeff Gallahan, Jarrett Gandolfo, Jodi Giglio, Andy Goodell, Colin Schmitt, Doug Smith, Chris Tague, Joe Angelino, Keith Brown, Michael Fitzpatrick, Steve Hawley, Josh Jensen, John Lemondes, Brian Manktelow, Michael Reilly, Matt Simpson, Robert Smullen, Michael Tannousis, Brian Miller, Mark Walcyzk and Mary Beth Walsh have previously endorsed Congressman Lee Zeldin for Governor.
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About Lee Zeldin
Lee Zeldin was born and raised on Long Island. He grew up in Suffolk County and graduated from William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach, where his identical twin daughters attend school today. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Albany and then his law degree from Albany Law School, becoming New York’s youngest attorney at the time at the age of 23.
Lee spent four years on Active Duty with the U.S. Army after completing ROTC and served in different capacities, including as a Military Intelligence Officer, Prosecutor, and Military Magistrate. In the summer of 2006, while assigned to the Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division, Lee deployed to Iraq with an infantry battalion of fellow paratroopers in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In 2007, Lee returned to Suffolk County with his family. It was at this time that Lee transitioned from Active Duty to the Army Reserve, where he currently serves with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
In 2008, Lee established a successful law practice in Smithtown, NY. Elected to the New York State Senate two years later, in 2010, Lee’s been working hard every day since to keep the promises he made to the hard-working families he represents.
In the State Senate, Lee successfully fought to repeal the MTA Payroll Tax for 80 percent of employers, a job killing tax that was hurting small businesses. Lee led the successful efforts to repeal the Saltwater Fishing License Fee and create the PFC Joseph Dwyer Program, a statewide program in New York to help our returning veterans cope with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Lee also wrote the law that protects our fallen veterans and their families from protests at military burials.
Lee was then elected to the United States Congress in 2014, representing New York’s First Congressional District, and quickly became a leading voice in America on top local, domestic and foreign policy issues.
Lee has secured many key victories for Long Island, which have included among many other successes:
Saving Plum Island, by securing the repeal of a 2008 federal law requiring the island to be sold off to the highest bidder. He also secured funding to repair the historic Plum Island Lighthouse and funding necessary to remediate environmental concerns on the island.
- Delivering a $2 billion Electron Ion Collider project to Brookhaven National Lab.
- Securing $8.3 billion in much needed funding to support treatment, enforcement, and prevention for those affected by the heroin and opioid abuse crisis.
- Working with the Army Corps of Engineers to protect our coastlines, advancing the ambitious $1.5 billion Fire Island to Montauk Point project, in addition to several other vital projects on the north and south shores of Long Island.
- Co-Chairing the Long Island Sound Caucus and delivering vast quantities of funding for the Long Island Sound Program, National Estuary Program and SeaGrant.
- Introducing and passing into law his Adult Day Health Care legislation for disabled veterans and opening a new health care clinic for East End veterans.
- Co-authoring a bipartisan resolution (H.Res. 246) that passed the House opposing the anti-Israel and anti-Semitic Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement.
- Successfully resolving over 17,000 constituent cases in favor of NY-1 residents.