Democrat Adam Haber opened  his campaign headquarters in Mineola on Sunday for his race to replace  state Sen. Jack Martins in the 7th Senate District.
Joined by about 70 volunteers, supporters and elected officials at the office located at 164 Jericho Turnpike, Haber discussed his run for office and the main issues he wanted to tackle.
“I will do everything I can to stand for public education. I just want to hammer that home,” he said. “Taxes, public education, environment: these are themes you’re going to hear over and over again, and they’re extremely important to me.”
“These are things that I think I can speak to directly and I’ll be an outspoken, passionate advocate for,” Haber added. “These are the reasons why I’m running.”
He is set to face off with Republican Elaine Phillips,  the Flower Hill Village mayor, to replace Martins in November.
Haber, a commodities trader-turned-restaurateur and Roslyn school board trustee, said he wanted to serve as a state senator to fight for women’s equality in the workplace, citing his wife, Renée, and daughter, Stephanie.
“I want to make sure they are treated that way in the eyes of the law and that’s another reason why I want to go to Albany,” he said.
While meeting residents in the 7th Senate District, Haber said, he has heard that voters wanted elected officials who they feel they can trust in office.
“They’re tired of the ethics problems,” he said.
Haber said he is often asked why he wants to be involved in politics given the controversy surrounding the state’s government.
He told his supporters that his love for Long Island influences his efforts in seeking elected office.
“I can’t imagine ever living anywhere else. This is where I want to grow old,” Haber said. “I’m doing everything I can to add value here. With all of you working together with me, there’s a lot of problems we can tackle together.”
Renée Haber, who introduced her husband to the crowd before his speech, touted Haber’s efforts in improving ethics and finances in the Roslyn School District after he became a trustee eight years ago.
“From the second he got in, we’ve had the lowest budgetary increases in all of Nassau County,” she said.
Last Thursday, Haber received the backing of the New York State United Teachers, which  represents 1,200 state school teacher unions.
“Candidates earning NYSUT’s endorsement this year have shown a willingness to listen to our members in public schools, colleges and hospitals,” the group’s president, Karen E. Magee, said in a statement. “They value their relationships with our more than 600,000 politically active and energized members and champion their interests.”
Haber said it was an honor to receive the group’s backing.
“As a local parent, sports coach and school board member, I share with these men and women the passion for empowering our children and giving them the best shot at life,” he said. “Together, we will work together to continue to address the misguided Common Core curriculum, ensure Long Island’s schools are fairly funded and defend our resources against New York City private charter schools.”
Elected officials at Haber’s campaign headquarters opening were 3rd Congressional District candidate Tom Suozzi, North Hempstead Democratic Party leader John Ryan, North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth, state Assemblyman Charles Lavine, North Hempstead Town Councilwoman Lee Seeman, North Hempstead Receiver of Taxes Charles Berman, Nassau County Legislator Carrie Solages, former North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman and Great Neck school board member Donald Ashkenase.