Two candidates announce bids to succeed Annie Rabbitt in the state Assembly

ALBANY — Two men have announced their candidacies for the state Assembly seat that will be open when Annie Rabbitt takes the oath of office as Orange County's County Clerk in January.

The 98th District covers southern Orange County from Port Jervis to Monroe and Warwick and part of the town of Ramapo in Rockland County.

Rabbitt will be vacating the seat to become Orange County Clerk on Jan. 1. It is unknown if Gov. Andrew Cuomo will call a special election to fill the remaining portion of her term. There will be a regular election for the seat in November 2014.

Here are the announcements, delivered in alphabetical order, of Karl Brabenec and Michael Morgillo:

Brabenec launches Assembly bid
Deerpark Supervisor Karl A. Brabenec officially kicked off his campaign for the New York State Assembly at the Greenwood Lake American Legion Hall. Approximately 100 friends, family members, and colleagues attended the official announcement, where Brabenec said he will seek the Republican, Conservative and Independence party lines to become the next assemblyman in the 98th Assembly district.

"I am determined to fight as hard as I can, in every way I can, to make the common-sense reforms that will move New York in the right direction," Brabenec said in his announcement remarks. "The principles that made us the Empire State have not lost their meaning. They never will and together, we can put our state back on top—where it belongs!"

Former Congresswoman Nan Hayworth and Greenwood Lake Mayor Jesse Dwyer also spoke at the event and stressed the importance of electing Brabenec.

"In just four short years, Karl has been able to accomplish great reforms as Deerpark Supervisor and has turned that municipality around in a positive direction," said Dwyer. "He is a friend to all of us in Greenwood Lake and he will make a fantastic advocate for us in Albany."

Brabenec stressed his platform points which are property tax reform, promoting small business and economic development efforts, supporting agriculture and growth in the black dirt region, protecting first responders, reducing state regulations and unfunded mandates, and promoting government efficiency, consolidation and reduced spending.

Police union official to run for Rabbit’s vacant seat

Michael Morgillo, a career New York City Police Officer with 33 years on the job, who has served as a union official for the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association since 1999, announced his candidacy for the State Assembly seat soon to be vacated by Annie Rabbit at a recent meeting of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 957.

“I believe that my three decades of public service and experience has equipped me with the tools that will allow me to improve the quality of life for everyone living in the 98th District," Morgillo said. "I intend to work hard to keep taxes low and to find and eliminate fraud, abuse and waste, at all levels of our government. As someone who has commuted to work for many years, I understand the issues and difficulties faced by those who travel long distances just to make ends meet and I will strive to ease those burdens for them.”

Morgillo, a Republican, has been interviewed by party chairmen in both Orange and Rockland counties and by the Republican Assembly Campaign Committee in Albany. He is also actively seeking the endorsements of the Conservative and Independent parties.

Morgillo resides in Monroe with his wife, Christine, a retired detective, and their daughter, Lisa, who currently is studying law in college.

The New York City Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, where Morgillo has served as a trustee, is the largest municipal police union in the nation and represents over 50,000 active and retired NYC police officers.