Since coming to the State Senate in 1992, Ruben Diaz Sr. has compiled an unusual profile, which shows up in the fact he appears on both the Democratic and Republican party lies o Tuesday, A reverend who served briefly in the City Council, Diaz said he conducted the first Pentecostal service ever inside City Hall and has been an outspoken opponent of abortion and same-sex marriage. However, Diaz has said, " When it comes to education, health, job protection, social services, I am one of the best Democrats you could find."

In July he said he would not say whether, if re-elected, he would ally with Democrats or Republicans in the Senate, a scenario that could give sleepless nights to party leaders from both sides as they fight for control of the body. His son, Ruben Diaz Jr., serves in the State Assembly -- as a Democrat.

Little information was available on the elder Diaz's Conservative opponent, William McDonagh.

Diaz's most recent campaign filing showed him with $33,220. McDonagh showed no contributions.

The district includes parts of Castle Hill, Clason Point, Hunts Point, Longwood, Melrose, Morrisania, Parkchester, Pelham Parkway, Soundview and Union Port.

Eric Schneiderman has represented this district that goes along the West Side of Manhattan and into the Bronx since 1998. For much of the time, he has worked for Democrats to wrest control of the State Senate from Republicans, challenging the kind of non-aggression pact that existed in Albany for many years.

In 2002, the legislature redrew his district, a move widely seen as creating boundaries less hospitable to him. Schneiderman won that year with about two thirds of the vote and has been reelected twice since.

This time around, Schneiderman has two opponents, but some of the zeal seems to have gone from the bid to remove him. On the Republican line, he faces Martin Chicon, who has run repeatedly and unsuccessfully for office since at least 1992. This year he is a leader of a group called "Unidos por McCain" that seeks to build support for the Republican presidential candidate in traditionally Democratic neighborhoods in upper Manhattan.

Little information was available about the Conservative candidate, Stephen Bradian.

In his most recent campaign filing, Schneiderman reported having $88,211 on hand. Bradian reported no contributions, and records for Chicon were not available.

Eric Schneiderman has represented this district that goes along the West Side of Manhattan and into the Bronx since 1998. For much of the time, he has worked for Democrats to wrest control of the State Senate from Republicans, challenging the kind of non-aggression pact that existed in Albany for many years.

In 2002, the legislature redrew his district, a move widely seen as creating boundaries less hospitable to him. Schneiderman won that year with about two thirds of the vote and has been reelected twice since.

This time around, Schneiderman has two opponents, but some of the zeal seems to have gone from the bid to remove him. On the Republican line, he faces Martin Chicon, who has run repeatedly and unsuccessfully for office since at least 1992. This year he is a leader of a group called "Unidos por McCain" that seeks to build support for the Republican presidential candidate in traditionally Democratic neighborhoods in upper Manhattan.

Little information was available about the Conservative candidate, Stephen Bradian.

In his most recent campaign filing, Schneiderman reported having $88,211 on hand. Bradian reported no contributions, and records for Chicon were not available.

Democratic Assemblymember Margaret Markey faces Tony Nunziato on Tuesday. Markey has held her Queens Assembly seat for a decade.

Markey has $34,619.13 in her campaign account, and she received more than $10,000 in contributions, according to her most recent filing. Nunziato has $14,327 and received $1,650 during his most recent campaign finance filing.

Markey chairs the Assembly's House Operations Committee and spearheaded legislation banning the sale of boxcutters to minors.

Nunziato, whose name will be on the Republican, Conservative and Independence party lines, owns Enchanted Florist & Greenhouse in Maspeth, which he converted into his campaign headquarters. He has pointed out in campaign literature that Markey voted to do away with the commuter tax. He was vice chair of the Maspeth Chambers of Commerce.

The district includes Maspeth, Woodside, and portions of Long Island City, Middle Village, Astoria and Sunnyside.

Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer, with the backing of the Democratic and Working Families parties, faces challenger Gerald Sullivan, who will appear on the Republican, Conservative and Independence line.

Pheffer has served in Albany for two decades, and in his challenge Sullivan has cast himself as the anti-establishment candidate, willing to stand up to the all-powerful Assembly speaker, Sheldon Silver.

She chairs the Consumer Affairs and Protection Committee and is one of the assembly's senior members. Before the City Council extended term limits, Pheffer was widely seen as the Democratic Party's choice for Queens borough president in the 2009 race. Now that the current borough president, Helen Marshall, could run again, Pheffer's plans are unclear.

Sullivan, 41, a businessman from Breezy Point, has $21,825 in his campaign account, according to the state Board of Elections. Pheffer has $96,732 in her campaign finance account.

The district includes the Rockaways.

The 23rd Senate District includes two boroughs, encompassing the north shore of Staten Island as well as parts of southwestern Brooklyn. Democrat Diane J. Savino was elected to represent the district when the seat became vacant in 2004. Savino won nearly twice as many votes as her Republican opponent in the 2004 race and ran unopposed in 2006.

A former city child-welfare caseworker, Savino became active in her union, rising to a leadership post. Now in the Senate Savino, who has been endorsed by the Working Families Party, said she continues to focus on employee's rights and the poor.

www.richardthomas4senate.com Richard Thomas, the Republican candidate, also has been endorsed by the Independence Party. Thomas is a member of the Staten Island Charter Commission.

By the end of September, Savino reported having $30,932 in campaign funds. In the time covered by the 32 Day Pre-General campaign finance report, Savino took in Savino reports having $25,000 in campaign funds. Thomas had $1,124.

 

First elected in 2004, Naomi Rivera has focused on women's and children's issues. She is the daughter of the Bronx Democratic Party chief, Jose Rivera and many have linked her rise to his position.

She faces two opponents: Republican Louise Delucia and Conservative Patrick McManus. Delucia reportedly runs a bridal business. Little additional information was available about either her or McManus. Neither reported any campaign contributions. Rivera's July campaign finance filing showed her having received $12,700 in the previous six months and ending June with $2,674 on hand.

 

Aurelia Greene has represented this Bronx district, which includes Highbridge, since 1982. In the Assembly, she has held a variety of leadership posts and sponsored a number of bills, dealing with such issues as bicycle helmets, encouraging apprenticeship programs, disclosure of information on car leases, and predatory lending.

In this election, she once again faces Republican/Conservative Anthony Curry. The challenger, who works for the city's Human Resources Administration, ran against Greene in 2004 and 2006 and also made a bid for City Council in 2001.

At the end of the 32 Day Pre-General campaign finance reporting period, Green's campaign had $25,372. Greene reported no fundraising activity.

 

The 74th district has seen a great deal of legislative turnover in recent years. Democratic Assemblymember Steven Sanders, who had represented the district since 1978, resigned in 2006. In a special election, Democrat Sylvia Friedman won the seat. Her time in Albany proved short-lived, however, as Brian Kavanagh defeated Friedman in the 2006 Democratic primary. Kavanagh then went on to defeat his Republican opponent in the general election in November.

Now Kavanagh is seeking another term and will face Republican Bryan Cooper in the general election. Cooper is vice president of the Vincent F. Albano Republican Club and is a Republican district leader.

Kavanagh reported having $52,000 left for his campaign at the end of September. Cooper has filed a "No Activity Statement."

 

Democrat Herman D. Farrell Jr. has been a member of the Assembly since 1974 and has represented the 71st District since 1983. He is currently the Chair of the Ways and Means Committee and is a member of the Rules Committee. Farrell is prominent in the Democratic Party, having served as the chair of the State Democratic Party, leader of the Manhattan Democratic Party and a member of the Democratic National Committee.

In the election, he faces Republican Kenneth M Britton. Little information is available about Britton.

Farrell raised $7,267 in the reporting period leading up to the filing of his 32 Day Pre-General report but showed a balance of minus $23,221. A report for Britton was not available.