Gov Spitzer Formally Endorses Craig Johnson for State Senate

It's official. Today Democratic State Senate candidate Craig Johnson accepted Gov. Eliot Spitzer's endorsement, with Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi and Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli looking on.


Here's the press release:

GOV. SPITZER FORMALLY ENDORSES
STATE SENATE CANDIDATE CRAIG JOHNSON

Pushes Agenda for Lower Property Taxes, Health Care Reform and Responsive Government

NORTH HEMPSTEAD -- Gov. Eliot Spitzer formally endorsed Democratic State Senate candidate Craig Johnson in North Hempstead today, saying that electing Johnson will help advance his agenda for lower property taxes, health care reform and responsive government.

Governor Eliot Spitzer said: "I am endorsing Craig Johnson for State Senate because he is the right partner for the great tasks as hand. Together we will help change the culture of Albany, provide property tax relief to the families of Nassau County, reform health care and make government more responsive for all New Yorkers. Craig is a voice for the common-sense changes we need. He will be a great State Senator."

Johnson, a Nassau County legislator, said, "For too long Albany has been operating under a set of rules that favored lobbyists and the well-connected few," Johnson said. "We need to make government work for all of New York and all of Long Island. I will be Governor Spitzer's partner in lowering property taxes, bringing health care costs under control and making government responsive for every New Yorker."

Johnson strongly supports Gov. Spitzer's reform agenda, which includes:

• A three-year, $6 billion property tax reduction focused on those middle class homeowners whose taxes are rising too fast for their incomes to catch up.
• Reducing health care costs by using the state's bargaining power to drive down the price of prescription drugs, aggressively fighting Medicaid fraud and restructuring excess capacity.
• Save millions of dollar each year by eliminating duplicative services and consolidating New York's multiple layers of local government.
• A series of lobbying and campaign finance reforms to reduce the power of special interests.
  

Spitzer and Johnson were joined by other Nassau officials, including County Executive Thomas Suozzi, Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli and North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman.

Johnson is a candidate for the 7th Senate District seat vacated by Michael Balboni, the incumbent State Senator. Balboni resigned from his seat to serve as Director of Homeland Security under Governor Spitzer. The district, located in the northwest corner of Nassau County on Long Island, encompasses the entire town of North Hempstead. It also includes the communities of Elmont, Floral Park, South Floral Park, Stewart Manor, Bellerose, Franklin Square, and part of Hicksville.

Johnson is Of Counsel at Jaspan Schlesinger Hoffman LLP in Garden City. Prior to his association with Jaspan Schlesinger, Craig was an associate at Reisman Peirez & Reisman, LLP and at the law firm of Willkie Farr & Gallagher prior to that.

Craig was raised in Port Washington and attended public schools in the neighborhood. He earned his BA, magna cum laude, from Amherst College and received his Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from St. John's University School of Law. He lives in Port Washington with his wife Liz, also an attorney, and sons Benjamin and Samuel.

###

26 more days until the election!

Update: More coverage at Capitol Confidential and in an AP story.

Volunteer | Donate

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | NY-SD7