Government

Southold Voters Guide 2014: A closer look at the ballot

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New York State Senate

State Senator Ken LaValle, 75, (R-Port Jefferson) is a lawyer who has served in his current position in Albany since 1977.

A former teacher and executive director of the state Senate education committee, he now serves as chair of its higher education committee.

Mr. LaValle is respected by many in the local environmental community and elsewhere for his authorship of the 1993 Pine Barrens Preservation Act. He was also one of the architects of the state’s STAR school property tax relief program.

Mr. LaValle, a graduate of Hempstead High School, has degrees from Adelphi University, SUNY/New Paltz and Touro Law School.

Michael Conroy, 57, (D-Manorville) has experience as a construction worker and labor representative.

He is a 37-year member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, having served it as an 14-year executive board member as well as a political director and an organizing director.

He’s been an active Democrat for 20 years, during which time he’s been vice chairman of both the Suffolk County Democratic Committee and Brookhaven Town Democratic Committee.

Mr. Conroy is a former chairman of the Suffolk County Democratic Committee screening committee and is currently a member of the New York State Democratic Committee.

(Editor’s Note: Mr. Conroy did not respond to requests for interviews and a head shot.)