Stern, Kaiman trot out supporters

Noah Manskar

Democratic congressional candidate Steve Stern announced another pair of Long Island endorsements last week before primary opponent Jon Kaiman unveiled one from New York City.

Port Washington business-owners and philanthropists Laurie and Martin Scheinman gave their backing to Stern for the Democratic nomination in New York’s Third District on Thursday.

Martin Scheinman, a contract arbitrator and attorney from Sands Point, will also serve as Stern’s finance chairman as he seeks to replace U.S. Rep. Steve Israel (D-Huntington), who is not running for re-election.

“Our litmus test is an easy one: does our representative make us proud to live in New York’s Third Congressional District?” the Scheinmans said in a statement. “Steve Stern is the one candidate where the answer is a resounding ‘yes.’”

Former North Hempstead Town Supervisor Kaiman announced support Friday from the Stonewall Democratic Club, the oldest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Democratic club in New York City.

The club backs candidates who advocate for LGBT equality and represent “the political ideas, ideals, concerns and priorities of the LGBT community of New York City and New York State,” Kaiman’s endorsement announcement says.

“I’m an honored to receive this endorsement in recognition of my advocacy for LGBT causes. I am proud of my longstanding support of marriage equality and nondiscrimination efforts throughout my career including the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the Equality Act,” said Kaiman, of Great Neck, in the statement.

The Stonewall Democratic Club’s endorsement questionnaire shows Stern, of Dix Hills, also sought the group’s support in the Third District.

Martin and Laurie Scheinman are the latest Israel allies to back Stern. 

Several former Israel campaign staffers now work for the Dix Hills legislator, including campaign manager Isaac Goldberg.

The Scheinmans have together given more than $109,000 to Israel’s campaigns since 2006, and Martin Scheinman gave $250 to Stern’s county Legislature campaign in 2011.

Laurie Scheinman, a child and family therapist and owner of Whit & Whim, a Port Washington shop that donates all its profits to local charities, was once one of more than a dozen Democrats considering a run for Israel’s seat.

The Scheinmans’ endorsement is the first from Nassau County for Stern, the only Suffolk County candidate for the district stretching from Whitestone, Queens, to Kings Park in Suffolk County. A little more than half the district is in Nassau.

Kaiman has official support from all three counties, including endorsements from former U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman and Great Neck public relations executive Robert Zimmerman, who also once weighed a bid for the Third District.

North Hempstead Town Board members Peter Zuckerman and Lee Seeman and former Councilman Tony D’Urso — now one of three Democrats seeking to replace state Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel (D-Great Neck) — have also backed Kaiman.

Other Democrats running toward the June 28 primary include Town Councilwoman Anna Kaplan of Kensington, former Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi of Glen Cove and Levittown attorney Jonathan Clarke.

State Sen. Jack Martins of Old Westbury and Glen Cove financial investigator Philip Pidot, both Republicans, are also vying for the open Third District seat.

The three county Democratic committees have declined to endorse a primary candidate, but Martins has won backing from the Republican committees in Nassau, Suffolk and Queens.

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