Dahroug Eyes State Senate a Third Time

Correction appended.

Jimmy Dahroug, GS '03, hopes that the third time he runs for State Senate on Long Island will be the charm. With just under two years until Election Day 2008, Dahroug said that he has already begun fundraising for his third campaign to beat 33-year-old incumbent Caesar Trunzo, R-Brentwood.

Dahroug lost the 2006 race with 44 percent of the vote-up from the 41 percent he earned in 2004-to Trunzo's 53. He said that he is not wasting any time getting ready for his planned 2008 run.

In 2006, Trunzo received $243,253 in campaign contributions, compared to Dahroug's $124,243, according to disclosure statements. Trunzo also started the year with more than $127,000 in the bank, compared to Dahroug's $7,600. Dahroug said his funds weren't enough to trump the name recognition of the long-time incumbent.

"Early money is like yeast-it rises," Dahroug said. "I'd like to be in six figures before the end of the year."

Dahroug also speculated that Trunzo had an edge because he ran on the tickets of several parties. Dahroug ran as a Democrat, while Trunzo ran as the Republican, Independent, and Conservative candidate. Dahroug was endorsed by the Working Families Party after the primary, but the party initially had a different candidate in the race, and state law prohibited the party from switching candidates.

"If we had the Working Families Party, we would have given him his closest race ever," Dahroug said.

Dahroug is working to gain momentum for the Democratic candidate running in next week's special election on Long Island to replace Republican State Sen. Michael Balboni, who was recently appointed by Governor Eliot Spitzer as his Homeland Security chief.

"If we win that seat, we're only two away from a majority in the senate," Dahroug said.

He hopes District 3 in Brentwood will be next. "If there's a seat that's ripe for the taking, it's this one," he said.

But for now, the former West End bartender and senior class president is back working in the office of the Suffolk County Executive on policy issues such as gang violence.

"It's kind of nice to have free time," Dahroug said. "Get to hit the gym."

CORRECTION: This article incorrectly stated that State Senator Caesar Trunzo is 33-years-old. He has been in the senate for 33 years.