Dave McDonough, Neighbor

Assemblyman McDonough is the Chairman of the Assembly Minority Task Force on Public Safety and, as such, will be working on different projects, including, homeland security, police and law enforcement and the courts, volunteer firefighters and emergency services, veterans and military personnel, sex offender watch and workforce issues in the correctional services. He is the ranking minority member on the Assembly Transportation Committee and also serves on the Assembly Health, Education, Veterans’ Affairs and Consumer Affairs committees.

Active in local civic affairs, Assemblyman McDonough is the Past President of the Nassau County Council of Chambers of Commerce, representing 50 chambers and over 6,000 small businesses. From 1994 to 1998, David served four terms as President of the Merrick Chamber of Commerce. As President, he was responsible for a 35 percent growth in membership and the operation of several business community projects including annual street festivals and the addition of holiday lighting projects in the business community.

He was an original member of the Development Committee for the Merrick Downtown Revitalization. Assemblyman McDonough also continues to serve as coordinator of that program working to enhance the downtown business area of Merrick and has been at the forefront in the design and implementation of the program’s various components. In addition, McDonough was responsible for attracting a four-screen movie theater to the Downtown Merrick area.

He was a founding member, and a former Board Member, of the Bellmore-Merrick Community Wellness Council, an organization working with various community, business and religious organizations to help prevent substance abuse and improve the quality of life for families and individuals. Assemblyman McDonough has been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Merrick for over 27 years, and served as its Distinguished President in 1989-90 and also served as the divisional educational chairman as well as Chairman of the New York District Kiwanis Club Officer Training Program.

He served in the United States Coast Guard and the United States Air Force and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Columbia University. He also graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

He and his wife, Carolyn, live in Merrick and have three children, David Jr., Susan and Scott and three grandchildren.