Huntington Alum to Leave
NYS Assembly
James D. Conte, a member of Huntington High School's Class of 1977, has announced he will leave the New York State Assembly at the end of his current term. He has represented the 10th Assembly district since winning a special election in March 1988.
"As many of you know, I am a two-time kidney transplant recipient and have had my kidney for over 20 years," Mr. Conte wrote in an open letter to the community. "I have been on a regimen of immunosuppressive, anti-rejection drugs, medications which slow my immune system and over time have the side effect of causing cancer. I was diagnosed with T-cell melanoma a year and a half ago. Recently, I learned that the cancer had spread. I have been receiving intensive chemotherapy treatments at Mt. Sinai Hospital, and will continue on this course for the next several weeks."
A lifelong resident of Huntington Station, Mr. Conte was born on New Year's Day in 1959. He attended St. Hugh of Lincoln Elementary School on New York Avenue before moving on to Huntington High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and political science at SUNY Stony Brook.
The decision to leave office was a difficult one for the Huntington alum. "While my health has improved over the last several days, I have realized that in order to fully recover, I must devote my full energies to regaining my strength and beating this disease," Mr. Conte said. "This decision was very hard for me, but after 24 years of dedicated public service and fighting for the people of the 10th Assembly district, I feel that it is now time to take all my energy and battle something much more personal."
Mr. Conte has been a familiar figure around the Huntington School District, where his children have participated in sports and clubs. His daughter Samantha and son Jeffrey are both students at Manhattan College. A younger daughter, Samantha is entering her freshman year at Huntington High School in September.
Mr. Conte has attended retirement parties in the district, Blue Devil athletic games, the Huntington Foundation's annual winter gala and an assortment of other events. He's known as a "people person" who enjoys getting out of the office and meeting with local folks and listening to their opinions and concerns.
"These last few weeks have been a very difficult time for my family." Mr. Conte said in his statement announcing he would be leaving office. "A diagnosis of cancer places tremendous strains on one's family and I know I could not continue this fight without the enduring love and amazing strength of my wife, Debbie, who has been my rock for 24 years, and continues to provide me with the physical, mental and emotional strength I need every day. I want to thank my three remarkable children, Sarah, Jeffrey and Samantha. You all show me daily the reason I need to focus on beating cancer. I love you and am so very proud of you."
Mr. Conte was an intern to New York State Senator James Lack and later for State Senator Martin Knorr and Assemblywoman Toni Rettaliata. He worked as an intergovernmental analyst in the Suffolk County Executive's Office, serving as a liaison between the state legislature and Suffolk's executive departments. He was first elected to the Assembly in a special election on March 15, 1988, replacing Mrs. Rettaliata, who vacated the position upon her election as Huntington town supervisor.
"As my health continues to improve, I look forward to starting a new chapter in my life but will never stray far from Huntington Station and the people who have given me joy and a loving home," Mr. Conte said.