Mario Mattera for New York State Senate 2nd District

Mario R. Mattera has spent his two terms in the State Senate making connections — with those in his own party, with those across the aisle, and with local, state and federal officials from whom he needs support.

That talent has served the St. James Republican well, particularly when it comes to fulfilling his district's needs even as a member of the Senate minority. Mattera, 61, understands the intricacies of the 2nd District and can speak in detail about individual communities' needs and how he meets them. His construction background and deep support of unions are particularly valuable when it comes to housing and infrastructure. His support of the Melville Town Center proposal, which could add housing and a mix of uses along Maxess Road south of the Long Island Expressway, and his willingness to fight for the larger improved sewer pipe that may be needed are welcome.

Mattera has worked tirelessly on securing an agreement between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Suffolk County and the state Department of Transportation regarding plans for a rail yard at the former Lawrence Aviation site in Port Jefferson. And his experience and knowledge will likely help Huntington Town and the village of Asharoken address the broken-beyond-repair seawall that protects a critical roadway.

Mattera disappoints when he exploits the complex issues of criminal justice law and state funding to help migrants in New York City. A more measured and nuanced view would help make progress toward resolving these concerns. Mattera has done that before in bucking his party. Early in his first term, for instance, he was the sole Republican to vote "yes" on stricter gun control measures, partly in response to two constituents — Linda Beigel Schulman and the late Michael Schulman, the mother and stepfather of teacher Scott Beigel, who was killed in the 2018 Parkland, Florida school shooting. 

Democrat Craig G. Hershkowitz is an attorney who previously worked at the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Department of Justice. He also served as assistant counsel to former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and as an administrative law judge in New York City. The Northport Democrat is particularly thoughtful when it comes to understanding the reasoning behind the need to stop over-incarceration. He welcomes state incentives for housing construction and supports congestion pricing in the hopes of adequately funding the MTA.

Hershkowitz, 43, too often resorts to ideology instead of pragmatism in trying to bridge political divides and lacks a granular knowledge of the 2nd District, but his commitment to public service is impressive.

This is our first endorsement of Mattera. But in the last four years, the former labor leader has grown into the job. He should use his skill set to continue to navigate and negotiate the complex bureaucracy of Albany on behalf of his district, starting with infrastructure issues in public transit, housing and coastal resiliency. In particular, his plans to bring state DOT officials to Lawrence Aviation in the hope that showing them the property will convince them to resolve outstanding concerns are critical to the area's future. But a more measured voice on complex issues that would work toward resolving rather than inflaming them, along with a continued willingness to cross the aisle, would serve him well.

Newsday's editorial board endorses Mattera.