Political Firestorm Erupts: Northport Candidate's Firing Ignites Campaign Battle

The campaign for the 12th Assembly District in Huntington, New York, has taken an unexpected turn in its final days, shifting focus from traditional issues like affordability, energy, and taxes to a contentious dispute over Democratic candidate Craig Herskowitz's dismissal from a state job five years ago. David Weber Jr., the Republican contender, has brought forth court documents asserting that the state terminated Herskowitz from his role as an assistant counsel in 2021 due to alleged sexual harassment of a female subordinate. This accusation has ignited a political firestorm, with the Huntington Women’s Republican Club expressing outrage, stating, "We are outraged this kind of person could be the Democratic candidate."

Herskowitz, however, vehemently denies the allegations, presenting an alternative narrative through his ongoing retaliation-termination lawsuit against the state. He contends that his termination was not due to sexual harassment but rather a retaliatory act for his cooperation in an investigation into sexual harassment claims against then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who resigned in 2021. According to Herskowitz, he was interviewed in April 2021 as part of the Attorney General’s office investigation into multiple claims against Cuomo and was subsequently fired in August 2021, shortly after Cuomo's resignation. Bryan Sokolowski, spokesman for the Suffolk County Democratic Committee, echoed this stance, calling the Republican's claims a "desperate smear attack" and asserting that Herskowitz "was a whistleblower."

The state's official position, in contrast, maintains that Herskowitz was fired for violating a "zero tolerance" policy against harassment, specifically for making inappropriate comments to a young female executive assistant and repeatedly asking for her phone number. The legal battle surrounding Herskowitz's dismissal has seen twists and turns: in January 2023, a state Supreme Court judge initially dismissed his lawsuit. However, in December 2023, an appellate court, a higher judicial body, reinstated the retaliation claim, allowing it to proceed. As of early 2024, Herskowitz expressed hopes of settling the case to clear his name, while Rich Azzopardi, a spokesman for Andrew Cuomo, dismissed Herskowitz’ retaliation claims as "ridiculous."

This heated controversy has overshadowed what was previously a low-profile campaign. The 12th Assembly District, which encompasses parts of Huntington, Babylon, and Islip, has historically been a reliably Republican seat, previously held by Andrew Raia and most recently by Assmb. Keith Brown, who is not seeking re-election. Despite its Republican history, the district's voter enrollment is closely divided, with 32,208 Democrats, 30,709 Republicans, and 30,863 independents, according to the state Board of Elections. Some Suffolk Democrats view this as an opportunity to potentially flip the district on Election Day. Campaign finance records indicate that as of October 23, Herskowitz had $70,000 in his campaign account, while Weber had $109,000.