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Laura Gillen
Laura Anne Gillen (born July 10, 1969)[1] is an American politician and attorney who is the member of the United States House of Representatives for New York's 4th congressional district.[2] A Democrat, she previously served as the town supervisor of Hempstead, New York.[3] Education and early careerGillen grew up in Baldwin, New York. She received her undergraduate degree in political science and government from Georgetown University, and her Juris Doctor degree from the New York University School of Law. Gillen practiced commercial litigation at Westerman Ball Ederer Miller Zucker & Sharfstein, LLP.[4] Before attending law school, Gillen worked as a scuba diving instructor in Thailand.[5] Earlier political careerIn 2017, Gillen narrowly defeated incumbent Anthony J. Santino for Hempstead Town Supervisor, becoming the first Democrat in 100 years elected to the position.[6] In the 2017 general election, Gillen was outspent by $1.2 million dollars and won by a margin of 2,268 votes.[6][7] During her 2017 campaign for Supervisor, Gillen criticized Santino's treatment of fellow town board members Bruce Blakeman and Erin King-Sweeney.[8] The two town board members took issue with a Santino proposal to restrict board members from taking more than $125,000 in outside income. While Santino denied it, the two attorneys argued that it was an attempt to throw them off the board.[9] Blakeman would later cross party lines to endorse Gillen in October.[10] In May 2018, Gillen released a five year capital plan which included rehabilitation of a town 311 facility and a water testing lab and $160 million in capital highway spending.[11] U.S. House of RepresentativesElections2022In 2022, she ran for the New York's 4th congressional district in 2022 United States House of Representatives elections, a seat vacated by incumbent Rep. Kathleen Rice.[12] She won the primary[13] but lost the general election to Anthony D'Esposito in an upset. The district represents nearly all of the Town of Hempstead and the City of Long Beach in Nassau County. 2024Gillen announced she would run against D'Esposito again in 2024. She narrowly defeated him in the general election, flipping the seat.[2] During her campaign, she said she opposed the implementation of congestion pricing.[14] References
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