Mike Corbett enters race for Kavanagh's open Assembly seat

With Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh elected to succeed Daniel Squadron in the state Senate, there’s another vacancy to fill – and Mike Corbett, the president emeritus of the New York State Young Democrats, is now running to fill Kavanagh’s Assembly seat on Manhattan’s East Side.

“I’m running because the 74th Assembly District is where I’ve spent my entire life,” said Corbett, who has always lived in the same rent-stabilized apartment. “The easiest way I can break this down is I want to represent my home and serve the only place I’ve known as home.”

Corbett said he is a friend of New York City Councilman-elect Keith Powers and that he has been meeting with other local Democrats, including Kavanagh, state Sen. Liz Krueger and New York City Councilman Dan Garodnick. Corbett is New York City Councilman Costa Constantinides’ director of special events, but he also emphasizes his travels around the state for the New York State Young Democrats.

“I could see myself walking into a chamber where I’m not a stranger,” he said. “I could see myself partnering just as easily with as James Skoufis as much as a Dan Quart on legislation.”

Housing activist Harvey Epstein already announced he is running for the Assembly seat.