Candidate Profile: State Assemblyman Charles Lavine

Name: Charles Lavine

Hometown: Glen Cove

Party: Democrat

Bio: Lavine, 65, has served the Thirteenth Assembly District since 2005. He beat Republican challengers Robert Germino, Jr. in 2010 and George McMenamin in 2008.

Lavine is a sitting member of six Assembly committees: Codes, Health, Higher Education, Insurance, Social Services and Judiciary. He chairs the Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Estates, Powers and Trusts.

He is president of the New York Chapter of the National Association of Jewish Legislators, and chairman of the Assembly’s Administration Regulations Review Commission.

With a strong background in criminal law, Lavine has authored legislation to take pensions from public officials found guilty of corruption and is a supporter of campaign finance reform and ethics legislation. He sponsored New York state's marriage equality law, legislation to identify and aid veterans in need and a law to stiffen penalties for those who use high-capacity magazines in their weapons.

Education: Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Wisconsin, Juris Doctorate from New York Law School.

Opponent: Louis Imbroto

District: Thirteenth Assembly District