by Rick Pezzullo
Tom Abinanti
State Assemblyman Tom Abinanti announced, in July, he will seek a fourth two-year term representing the 92nd District, which includes the towns of Greenburgh and Mount Pleasant.The Democrat filed petitions with more than 1,700 signatures, more than three times the amount required. He will also be running on the Working Families and Independence Party lines.
“I am proud of my record but there is still plenty more to do,” Abinanti said. “I have stood up for what’s right and made a real difference for the communities I represent and for New York.”
A practicing attorney, Abinanti, 68, served as a Prosecuting Attorney for the villages of Ardsley and Dobbs Ferry, represented the Greenburgh Housing Authority, and served as pro bono attorney for the Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion.
He served two terms as Greenburgh Town Councilman, was Legislative Counsel to a member of Congress, staff Counsel to the New York State Assembly, and represented residents of Greenburgh on the Westchester County Board of Legislators for 20 years before being elected to the Assembly in 2010. As a county legislator, Abinanti served as Majority Leader three times, and chaired committees, including Rules, Legislation, Health, Community Affairs and Environment and Energy.
In the Assembly, Abinanti has been an advocate for common sense measures to reduce gun violence and a leader in efforts to ensure people with special needs are treated fairly and given the services they need.
“I’ve been a strong advocate for our suburbs and the issues we most care about,” he said. “I have fought for better education, a cleaner environment and more non-property tax revenues to hold down property taxes. Going forward, my priorities will remain the same.”
Abinanti resides in Greenburgh with his wife Janet Longo-Abinanti and their son Justin. Mrs. Abinanti is a science research teacher at Sleepy Hollow High School. Justin is a student at the Pleasantville Middle School in a Special Education Program for children with autism. Abinanti’s daughter, Nicole, is a doctor. She lives with her husband and their three children.