Candidate Profile: Gary B. Port

Name: Gary B. Port

Hometown: West Hempstead

Party: Democrat

Bio: Gary B. Port was commissioned in the United States Army in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps on Dec. 23, 1986. He served three years on Active Duty at Fort Bliss, TX before returning to New York in 1990 and became an assistant District Attorney in Brooklyn. After having prosecuted a number of major crimes, he left the D.A.’s office for private practice in 1993.

Port is a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserve, currently assigned to the 78th Training Division. He is the legal adviser and Ethics Officer to the Commanding General of the 78th Training Division. His practice consists of general ligation, approximately 40 percent of which is family law. He also engages in commercial litigation, performs business incorporations and represents clients in personal injury matter. He defends service members at Courts-martials, assists them in correcting military records, as well as prosecutes medical malpractice claims against the Veterans Administration Hospitals.

He is an attorney and partner in a law firm he founded in 2002: Port and Sava, Scoutmaster. Port is also a founding member of the West Hempstead Chamber of Commerce, and a family man with four children. In 2011, Port unsuccessfully ran against Kate Murray for Hempstead Town Supervisor.

Education: Port graduated from Brooklyn Law School in 1986.

Opponent: Assemblyman Edward P. Ra – Republican, Conservative, Independence, Tax Revolt Party

District: The new 19th Assembly District covers the vast majority of the old 17th Assembly District under Assemblyman Tom McKevitt. The new district includes Albertson, Franklin Square, Garden City, Garden City Park, Glen Head, New Hyde Park, Carle Place, Old Brookville, Old Westbury, Westbury and Williston Park.

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Visit http://www.vote411.org/pollfinder.php to find your local polling location.

Story by Geoffrey Walter