Judi Bosworth out, Jon Kaiman in for Congress race

Noah Manskar

As former North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman jumped fully into the race to replace U.S. Rep. Steve Israel (D-Melville) this week, current Supervisor Judi Bosworth officially stepped out.

Bosworth, a Democrat and Great Neck resident, confirmed in a statement Wednesday she would not run for the North Shore Congressional seat after party officials approached her last week about a potential bid.

“I love my job as supervisor and this is where I want to be,” she said. “The residents of the Third Congressional District are fortunate to be able to choose from so many well-qualified and competent contenders.”

Kaiman, Bosworth’s predecessor and also a Great Neck resident, is one of those contenders. 

His name was one of 12 in the mix immediately following Israel’s Jan. 5 announcement that he wouldn’t seek re-election, and he said this week he plans to fully mount a campaign for the Democratic nomination.

Kaiman must first leave his posts as chairman of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority and head of the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery before forming a federal campaign committee and beginning to raise funds, he said.

Kaiman said his almost 10 years as town supervisor and experience in several other local government agencies would make him a strong local representative on the federal level, as he said Israel was.

“I think it’s very important for our national government to be able to understand the needs of our local communities, and my experience gives me perspective on what our local communities need and how the federal government can hopefully successfully partner (with them), he said, adding that he’s pro-choice and wants to rebuild the American relationship with Israel.

Robert Zimmerman, a Great Neck resident, Democratic National Committee member and public relations executive, decided not to enter the race this week, citing personal reasons.

The moves come as Democrats continue to prepare for a likely primary to determine who could run against the leading Republican candidate, state Sen. Jack Martins (R-Mineola), in what could prove to be a tight general election.

Other Republican candidates include state Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci (R-Huntington) and retired Marine David “Bull” Gurfein of Manhasset, who started a campaign committee in September and has raised more than $250,000.

Kaiman and Zimmerman were among 11 potential candidates at a meeting Jan. 20 with Israel and Democratic Party leaders from Nassau, Suffolk and Queens counties.

Several other established party figures, such as former Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi and North Hempstead Councilwoman Anna Kaplan (D-Great Neck), who have already entered the race, were there. Suffolk Legislators William Spencer and Steve Stern and former Suffolk Legislator Jon Cooper were also present.

The potential candidates also included several “outsiders” who haven’t held or run for office before, Nassau Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs said — Port Washington psychologist and philanthropist Laurie Scheinman, Great Neck businessman Todd Richman, Levittown attorney Jonathan Clarke and Jerry Cohen of Old Westbury.

Those outsider candidates could prove attractive, Jacobs said, because many voters are exasperated with establishment politics.

“They’re in an angry mood,” Jacobs said. “They want some radical change … It’s certainly an advantage right now to be somebody who’s fresh and new.”

Outsiders, though, might have a tougher time raising the $1.5 million required to mount a successful primary campaign, he said.

E. O’Brien Murray, Martins’ campaign strategist, said the proliferation of candidates indicated “disarray” among Democrats and shows they’re struggling to unite behind an opponent for Martins.

“Jack Martins has represented Nassau County so well, the Democrats can’t even find somebody to run against him that’s qualified,” Murray said.

After last week’s meeting, Democratic officials approached Bosworth trying to convince her to consider a run.

She’s the most popular Democrat in Nassau County, Jacobs said, and “happens to be an elected official who carries herself as an outsider.”

“It’s a perfect blend of experience on the one hand and lacking the tarnish of a politician on the other,” he said.

Jacobs said he will be continuing “frank” conversations with the potential candidates and expects the field to naturally winnow in the coming weeks.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has also been party to the ongoing talks, he said, and the local party leaders will continue to work cooperatively with the national officials.

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