Ken Diamondstone is a lifelong Democrat, dedicated to community service and progressive reform. He has made human rights, environmental protection, affordable housing, and economic justice his life's work and mission, and now he is seeking to bring this experience and dedication to the New York State Senate's 25^th District.

Ken was born in Flushing, New York and attended the prestigious High School of Music and Art in Manhattan. He holds a degree in political science from Queens College and completed his graduate studies in public administration at New York University. His activism for progressive causes has taken him everywhere from the doorsteps of his neighborhood, where he campaigned for Adlai Stevenson at the age of 14, to Puerto Rico, where he protested the Navy bombing of Vieques in 1970. Ken worked with Fannie Lou Hammer and the Mississippi Freedom Democrats to integrate the Democratic National Convention in 1964 and later became the chair of the Nassau County Young Democrats.

As a community leader and activist, Ken has transformed his democratic ideals into concrete actions, directly benefiting the lives of those around him. A developer of socially responsible housing, he has provided hundreds of affordable apartments to working families and seniors. As Chair of the Brooklyn Solid Waste Advisory Board, Ken worked to pressure Mayor Bloomberg into restoring recycling to the City and promoted plans to drastically reduce solid waste over the next 15 years. He established an outreach program that has served over 50,000 meals to people living with HIV/AIDS. A staunch environmentalist, he negotiated with a major car company to provide non-polluting electric vehicles to parks and not-for-profits free of charge. Ken has been an active member of the LBGT community, speaking out for Marriage Equality and participating in the creation of legislation such as the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act (SONDA).

Ken has served at the forefront of numerous community organizations, including Brooklyn Community Board 2, New Yorkers Against the Death Penalty, Brooklyn Parents for Peace, The Brooklyn SWAB, and the Citywide Recycling Advisory Board. He has also served as Vice Chair of the Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats, on the executive board of Lambda Independent Democrats, as board member of Independent Neighborhood Democrats, and as Coordinator in the 52^nd Assembly District reelection campaign of Congressman Major Owens.

Ken has a long record of standing up to the developers and bureaucrats who sacrifice our quality of life for their profit margins, and will continue to do so as State Senator. In a time when career politicians, lobbyists, and special interests have taken over Albany, Ken will put an end to the backroom deals and fight for the progressive reform our community needs.