North Hempstead Councilwoman Mariann Dalimonte has endorsed Great Neck’s Robert Zimmerman in his bid for the 3rd Congressional District.
Dalimonte, a fourth-generation Port Washington resident, represents the town’s 6th district, which includes Sands Point, Manorhaven, Port Washington, Port Washington North, Baxter Estates, Plandome Manor, Plandome Heights, Plandome, Flower Hill and Munsey Park.
“Robert is the champion we need for women’s rights, environmental protection and the best interests of the Port region,” Dalimonte said in a statement. “Robert will fight for us in Washington and at home on Long Island. Robert will be a stalwart advocate for a woman’s right to choose, support our small businesses and protect our beautiful ecosystems. Locally, I thank Robert for his strong support of the Oysters Program that seeded over one million oysters in Manhasset Bay, a program vital to its conservation.”
She added, “I am proud to endorse Robert Zimmerman for the United States Congress and encourage everyone to vote for him on Nov. 9.”
Zimmerman said he welcomed the endorsement from the “community stalwart.”
“Mariann Dalimonte has been a tireless fighter and advocate for our Port Washington community. Her steady hand on constituent services, beautification efforts and championing local issues surrounding the protection of Manhasset Bay are well-known,”
Zimmerman said in a statement. “Mariann and I are both lifelong residents of the 3rd Congressional District and the support of community stalwarts like her and former Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth are especially meaningful to me. It also reassures our local leaders and residents that they will have a trusted friend and advocate in Washington fighting for them. I am very honored by Councilwoman Dalimonte’s endorsement.”
If elected, Zimmerman would become the first openly gay member of Congress from Long Island and Queens as would his Republican challenger, George Santos.
Zimmerman, 67, is co-president of ZE Creative Communications on Bond Street in Great Neck, a public relations firm he started 33 years ago with Ron Edelson and a Democratic national committeeman.
Zimmerman received 9,482, or 36%, of the votes in the 3rd Congressional District primary in August. Former North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman finished second with 6,884 votes for 26%. Nassau County Legislator Joshua Lafazan (D-Woodbury) was in third place with 5,296 votes, Port Washington’s Melanie D’Arrigo received 4,197 votes and Oyster Bay’s Reema Rasool received 661 votes.
Zimmerman previously worked as a congressional aide on Capitol Hill for Congressmen Lester Wolff, James Scheuer and Gary Ackerman. His advocacy also led to his being nominated by President Bill Clinton to serve on the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Presidential Commission on the Arts and by President Barack Obama to serve on the National Council on the Humanities.
The businessman referred to numerous pieces of legislation in state governments aimed at compromising voting, abortion and the LGBTQ+ community’s rights, among other things, as threats to the country’s fabric.
Notable endorsements for Zimmerman include Gov. Kathy Hochul, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, former Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, state Assemblyman Charles Lavine and state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.
