Michael Delury for New York's 20th Assembly District

Includes south west section of Town of Hempstead and City of Long Beach, Lido Beach and Point Lookout

The 20th Assembly District race started with a game of musical chairs dating to Bruce Blakeman’s win as Nassau County executive last year. Blakeman’s victory meant that he would vacate his seat on the Hempstead Town board, a position filled by Melissa Miller, who resigned from the Assembly. That led to a special election for the 20th AD in the spring, and the winner was Eric Ari Brown, who arrived in Albany in time for the final weeks of the session.

Brown, a 54-year-old Republican from Cedarhurst, is now running for a full term. He is also deputy mayor of Cedarhurst Village. His opponent, Democrat Michael Delury, 63, of Long Beach, also holds a local post, as treasurer of the village of East Williston.

The two candidates have diametrically opposed views of their side government roles. Brown has not given up his village position and does not appear sufficiently prepared for potential conflicts, other than saying he asked for the situation to be vetted by state ethics officials. Delury said he would resign the second position if elected: “To effectively be an assemblyman representing the entire district, I would devote full time to that job,” he told the editorial board.

That’s the prudent choice.

Delury brings a refreshing common-sense philosophy to the race. He highlights coastal protections needed in the district, particularly given the unique issues of the Long Beach barrier island. And he sees the urgent necessity of a “substantial increase” in housing, as well as better parameters to establish affordable housing so that students, young adults, and the aging can afford to live on Long Island.

Delury is also clear about the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines as well as regular, long-established vaccines for children to attend school. Brown, however, said he had not been vaccinated for COVID as of the board’s interview with him, and believes “the parent should have the right to decide” about other vaccines despite acknowledging their importance.

Delury would be a much-needed moderating influence in the Assembly majority, and deserves the chance.

Newsday endorses Delury.