Guariglia joins race for state Assembly 16th district seat

Joe Nikic

Town of North Hempstead Deputy Chief of Staff Nick Guariglia has joined the Democratic race for the 16th Assembly District seat, pitting him against former town Public Safety Commissioner, Andrew DeMartin.

The Port Washington resident formed a campaign committee Monday to run for the 16th Assembly seat, which will be vacated by outgoing state Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel (D-Port Washington).

He began serving as the town’s deputy chief of staff since January 2014 after serving for two years as deputy chief of staff for the minority of the Nassau County Legislature, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Guariglia told Newsday he was a “progressive Democrat” who supports paid family leave legislation and highlighted his work in the town passing anti-discrimination legislation protecting transgender employees.

DeMartin, 50, of Great Neck, resigned from his town post last month to focus on his run for the state Assembly.

He said balancing his job requirements with his run for election would hinder his ability to run a successful campaign.

DeMartin served as a commissioner for the Manhasset-Lakeville Water & Fire District from 2008 to 2013.

Schimel announced on Jan. 7 she would not seek re-election.

She was first elected to the state Assembly in March 2007 after defeating Republican Ryan DeCicco in a special election, receiving 86 percent of the votes.

She replaced Thomas DiNapoli, who the state Legislature selected as state Comptroller that year.

Guariglia, 31, served as Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth’s campaign manager in her first run for the town post in 2013.

At the age of 23, he ran an unsuccessful campaign against County Executive Edward Mangano, who was then a county legislator for the 17th district, in 2007.

Guariglia told Newsday he would work to get “corruption out of politics” through campaign-finance reform.

Efforts to reach Guariglia were unavailing.

Share this Article