Assemblyman James D. Conte is a life-long resident of Huntington Station where he was born on January 1, 1959. He attended St. Hugh of Lincoln Elementary School, Huntington High School and is a graduate of the State University of New York at Stony Brook with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Political Science.

Working on state-wide and local issues of concern to Long Islanders, Assemblyman Conte is a strong voice in Albany on behalf of his constituents. Since first coming to the Assembly, Jim served as a member of the Assembly Education Committee. Because of his commitment to the education of all our children, he rose to become the Ranking Minority Member of the Assembly Education Committee. In 2005, he was promoted to Assistant Minority Leader Pro Tempore for his leadership and vast knowledge of statewide legislative issues where he leads Assembly floor debates. He presently is a member of the Assembly Committees on Health, Labor, Insurance and Higher Education.

Known for his active constituent services on behalf of taxpayers, Assemblyman Conte has battled the bureaucratic red tape at the federal, state and local levels. He sponsors free monthly blood pressure screening, child safety seat inspections, EPIC seminars, senior identification cards, and provides information and applications for governmental services that have saved Long Island residents thousands of dollars. His annual Caring for Children Holiday Drive collects food, clothing and baby items for distribution to needy infants and toddlers.

Having grown up on the north shore, Assemblyman Conte's dedication to Long Island's rich coastal heritage was the reason he was appointed as one of New York's members to the Bi-State Long Island Sound Marine Resources Commission to work with Connecticut Legislators on protecting and preserving our shared waterway. He also represents Long Island as a member of the New York/New Jersey C.O.A.S.T. (Coastal Ocean and Shore Trust) Committee.

Being the recipient of a kidney transplant, Assemblyman Conte has made a personal commitment to champion the cause for greater awareness of the need for organ and tissue donation. He has authored many new laws to promote the need for New Yorker's to become organ and tissue donors and has sponsored legislation to create a Gift of Life Trust Fund and statewide organ donor registry.

In October of 1997, he was appointed by Governor Pataki to the New York State Transplant Council. The Council advises the Commissioner of Health on matters relating to organ procurement organizations (OPOs), banks and storage facilities and other issues relating to the procurement, storage, allocation, distribution and transplantation of organs and tissue. He was recently reappointed in 2001. In February of 2005, he was appointed to serve on the Board of Directors of NYODN (New York Organ Donor Network). He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Alliance for Donation.

As an outspoken advocate for children, victim’s rights and state educational issues, Assemblyman Conte has appeared on numerous television and radio programs including: The John Walsh Show, Meet the Leaders, News12 Education Town Meeting, Focus 55 and Faceoff.

Jim Conte is active in his community, having received numerous awards from many local organizations. He is a member of the Huntington Elks and Constantino Brumidi Lodge Sons of Italy, the Huntington Historical Society, the Huntington Koumbaro Club and the Transplant Recipient International Organization (TRIO). For his work on behalf of emergency volunteers, Jim was presented with an honorary membership to the Huntington Community First Aid Squad. He is also a member of the Huntington Station Rotary Club.

Assemblyman Conte began his governmental career as an intern to Senator James Lack and subsequently worked for Senator Martin Knorr and Assemblywoman Toni Rettaliata. He was employed as an Intergovernmental Analyst for the office of the Suffolk County Executive Intergovernmental Relations Unit, where he served as a liaison between the State Legislature and the executive departments on the County's behalf. He was first elected to the Assembly in a special election on March 15, 1988.

Jim resides in Huntington Station with his wife, the former Debra Ingalls, a pharmacist, his children Sarah Ashley, Jeffrey James and Samantha Irene.