“New York is at a crossroads,” Gianaris declared. “We face both a fiscal crisis and a crisis of confidence in state government. I’m running for the State Senate so that I can continue my work to reform state government and help New York turn its economy around.”

“I have known, and worked closely with, Mike Gianaris for years,” Sen. Onorato said. “Mike has been an outstanding member of the Assembly who always puts our community first and he is the best choice to succeed me. I’m proud to support him.”

Gianaris’ candidacy has also received the support of virtually every elected official whose districts overlap the 12th SD. “He knows this difficult economy is hurting the bottom line for too many families in New York,” noted Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney. “In the State Senate, we can count of Mike to fight for economic opportunity, job creation and middle-class tax relief for Queens. He will be an excellent addition to the New York State Senate and I am proud to offer his candidacy my enthusiastic endorsement and full support.”

“Mike Gianaris has been my partner in the effort to improve our community’s quality of life and to enhance public safety for all our families. I can think of no better leader to continue this work in the State Senate than Mike Gianaris,” said Councilman Peter F. Vallone, Jr.

First elected to the New York State Assembly in 2000, Gianaris has been one of the Legislature’s leading champions of government reform. He wrote the nation’s first Airline Passengers’ Bill of Rights and his Energy Security Act was the state’s first major homeland security law after the September 11th attacks. He has been an outspoken advocate on energy issues and repeatedly taken on ConEd on behalf of consumers. Most recently, Gianaris was instrumental in ending the month-long stalemate in the State Senate by recommending to Governor Paterson that he appoint a Lieutenant Governor.

Prior to his election to the Assembly, Gianaris served as a Counsel to the Assembly’s leadership where he was responsible for issues related to Consumer Affairs and Protection, Governmental Operations, Veterans Affairs and Agriculture and Markets. He has also served as Queens Regional Representative for Governor Mario Cuomo, as an aide to Congressman Tom Manton and as Finance Chair of the New York State Democratic Committee during the 2006 election cycle in which Democrats won every statewide office for the first time in recent history.

Gianaris graduated from New York City public schools before receiving degrees from Fordham University and Harvard Law School. He began his community service in 1988 working to register 10,000 new voters in support of Mike Dukakis’ Presidential campaign. The child of immigrants, Gianaris was the first Greek-American elected to legislative office in New York City.

The 12th Senatorial District consists of portions of western Queens, including Astoria, Long Island City, Woodside and Sunnyside.