Douglas M. Smith for Assembly District 5
Assemb. Douglas M. Smith (R-Holbrook) is running for reelection. Credit: James Escher
Find out the candidates Newsday's editorial board has selected on your ballot: newsday.com/endorsements2026
At 36, Assemb. Douglas M. Smith, a Holbrook Republican, offers voters both energy and seasoning. He has served in the seat since 2018 when he won a special election to succeed Al Graf, who’d been elected to a Suffolk judgeship.
Now the ranking Republican on the chamber’s Education Committee, Smith was a high school math teacher after graduating from St. Joseph’s University in Patchogue with degrees in mathematics and adolescent education. Last year, Smith also became chairman of the Town of Islip Republican Committee, succeeding William Garbarino.
Due to that background, he pays extra attention to the complexities of state school funding and its local impact.
Smith told the editorial board he is among a number of lawmakers of both parties who believe that charter schools should not be funded in New York State the way they are.
“You can agree or disagree with the model of charter schools, but they are costing our taxpayers a tremendous amount of money,” Smith said. He pointed out that the Sachem school district, where he lives, has “24 students that elect to go to a charter school out of 11,000. That’s costing the district $400,000.”
While change is unlikely, Smith notes pressure could be taken off property taxes on Long Island if the state didn’t fund so large a proportion of New York City’s single massive school district.
He proposes increasing property taxes for residents of the five boroughs by a modest 1%. Smith also notes that the GOP minority had long been critical of the state’s timetable on the crossover to electric school buses which this year was pushed back five years.
Smith cites other district issues he attends to, including a major pothole problem along a seven-mile stretch of Route 25, or Middle Country Road, between Smith Haven Mall and County Route 83.
With community support, he said, repairs are finally expected during paving season next spring.
Democrat Victoria A. Russell, 61, of Holbrook, is not actively campaigning.
Newsday Opinion endorses Smith.
ENDORSEMENTS ARE DETERMINED solely by the Newsday editorial board, a team of opinion journalists focused on issues of public policy and governance. Newsday’s news division has no role in this process.
