Charles D. Lavine has served as a member of the New York State Assembly since 2005, representing the 13th district, which covers portions of North Hempstead and Oyster Bay in Nassau County. A Democrat, he has built a long legislative career centered on ethics reform, judicial oversight, and civil rights protections, making him one of the more prominent Long Island lawmakers in Albany.
Early Life and Background
Lavine was born on August 14, 1947, in Marinette, Wisconsin. He graduated from Marinette High School in 1965 before earning his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin. He went on to attend New York Law School, launching a legal career that would span more than three decades before he entered elected office. By the time he sought reelection to the Assembly, Lavine had practiced law in the state’s courts for about thirty-five years. He resides in Glen Cove, New York, and is married with two adult children.
Path to the Assembly
Before winning his Assembly seat, Lavine served on the Glen Cove City Council. He was first elected to the New York State Assembly in 2004, succeeding David Sidikman, and took office in January 2005. He has held the seat ever since, representing a district that spans northeastern Nassau County.
Legislative Roles and Priorities
Over his tenure, Lavine has taken on a range of influential committee positions. He currently chairs the Judiciary Committee and sits on the Committees on Codes, Ethics and Guidance, Rules, and Insurance. Earlier in his career, he chaired the Election Law Committee, where he played a leading role in bringing early voting to New York State. He has also chaired the Committee on Ethics and Guidance and co-chaired the New York State Legislative Ethics Commission, alongside leading a bipartisan task force that shaped the Assembly Speaker’s policy on sexual harassment, retaliation, and discrimination.
Ethics enforcement has been a recurring theme of his work. As chair of the ethics committee, Lavine led the investigation into former Assemblyman Vito Lopez over sexual harassment allegations, a probe that resulted in a $330,000 fine in 2013. As Judiciary Committee chair, he also oversaw the Assembly’s impeachment investigation into former Governor Andrew Cuomo, working to ensure the process was handled fairly.
Lavine briefly considered a run for Nassau County Executive, announcing his candidacy in 2016. He withdrew from that race in 2017 and threw his support behind Laura Curran, who went on to win the position.
Community and Advocacy Work
Beyond his legislative duties, Lavine has been active in Jewish community affairs. He serves as President of the New York Chapter of the National Association of Jewish Legislators and sits on its national board of directors, positioning him as a vocal advocate for the Jewish community and for strengthening ties between the United States and Israel.
He has also weighed in publicly on national political controversies affecting his district and beyond. In December 2022, following revelations about fabrications in the background of Congressman-elect George Santos, Lavine called the allegations troubling, said it would be unfair for the people of the Third Congressional District to be represented by someone who had fabricated significant parts of his biography, and urged incoming House leadership to take appropriate action.
A Long-Standing Legislative Legacy
Now in his ninth term, Lavine remains a fixture of Nassau County politics and Albany’s Judiciary Committee leadership. His decades-long focus on government ethics, judicial fairness, and voting reform has shaped several pieces of New York legislation, and he continues to be an active voice on issues ranging from courtroom reform to civil rights within the state Assembly.
