Patchogue Village Mayor Paul Pontieri could possibly run for the state Senate seat that current state senator Lee Zeldin plans to vacate in 2014 in order to challenge Congressman Tim Bishop.
According to a Newsday report, Pontieri is the first Democratic name on a list of potential contenders including Republican Brookhaven town board member Timothy Mazzei, Conservative Islip Town board member Anthony Senft, Islip Supervisor Tom Croci and former state assemblyman Dean Murray.
Patch reached out to Pontieri who said that an inquiry has gone out, and if running becomes a possibility he would consider it. According to Newsday, Pontieri has spoken with Suffolk Democratic Chairman Richard Schaffer as well as Sen. Michael Gianaris, who is head of the Senate Democrats’ campaign committee about possibly running.
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