Elaine Phillips
The freshman will chair the moribund committee and actually hold hearings.
Democrats have won enough seats to secure single-party rule in New York.
The challenger to state Sen. Elaine Phillips has a liberal-leaning district, but faces fear of taxes.
If Democrats want to retake the state Senate, they need to undo GOP control on the island.
The current New York Senate seats Long Island holds, and who is vying to disrupt the powerful voting bloc.
