Paul Damato and John Zollo: Candidates for Smithtown’s 4th District Court Judge
While judges are not allowed to campaign, they were able to tell us about their backgrounds.
In their recent meeting at the TBR News Media office, John Zollo (R,C) and Paul Damato (R,C), both candidates for the Town of Smithtown’s 4th District Court Judge positions, showed they bring substantial legal experience and complementary qualifications to the race. While they share core beliefs about the role of a judge, they each bring different strengths from their varied careers. They are each running against the Democratic candidate, Maria Scheuring, who did not come in to tell us about her background.
John Zollo’s background, career and approach
John Zollo has developed a well-rounded career rooted in family and civil law, emphasizing his dedication to public service and community-centered justice. He said he wanted to be a lawyer “from the time I was in the third grade … [partially] because anyone who was anybody in history were mostly lawyers.” After graduating from Fordham University, Zollo attended New York Law School, which laid the groundwork for his legal path. He began his career as an assistant county attorney for Suffolk County, gaining extensive experience in handling a variety of local cases. Later, as the town attorney for Smithtown, Zollo became attuned to the specific issues affecting residents, from family law matters to municipal legal concerns.
Zollo describes his approach to the bench as one centered on accessibility and empathy. He believes that judges should be relatable and deeply invested in the well-being of their communities, stating, “It’s not just about knowing the law, it’s about understanding people and what they need from the law.” Personally, Zollo has strong ties to his Italian American heritage, which he embraces through family traditions such as cooking. His personable and warm demeanor aligns with his philosophy that a judge should be someone the community feels comfortable approaching, especially in cases involving personal and family disputes.
Paul Damato’s specialized expertise and perspective
Paul Damato brings a specialized focus in real estate tax and property valuation law, fields in which he has practiced for over 36 years. After earning his law degree from Hofstra Law School, Damato concentrated on real estate tax reduction law, representing both property owners and government agencies. This dual role — “working on both sides of the V,” as he puts it — has given him a balanced view of property-related cases, an area he believes is central to Long Island’s economy. In addition to his legal practice, Damato serves as the village assessor in Port Jefferson, a position that further informs his perspective on property and tax issues facing the community.
Damato’s life outside his profession is similarly community focused. He and his wife, who live in St. James, are raising a teenage son, and Damato values the family-oriented atmosphere of Long Island. Beyond his legal work, Damato has lectured at Fordham and St. John’s law schools on property law, reflecting his dedication to education and professional development within the legal community. His approach to being a judge is methodical and technically informed, aimed at delivering fair, well-reasoned judgments that take into account the complex economic factors influencing local property law. “Real estate is the heartbeat of Long Island,” he said, underscoring the importance of understanding property issues at a practical level.
Distinct but complementary judicial approaches
While Zollo and Damato share a common dedication to serving Smithtown’s residents, their judicial philosophies reflect their backgrounds. Zollo’s experience in family and civil law, combined with his community-oriented approach, positions him as a judge who prioritizes empathy and accessibility. His approachable nature and commitment to community well-being align well with cases that involve personal and interpersonal issues.
In contrast, Damato’s focus is rooted in the technical and procedural aspects of property and tax law. His extensive experience as both a representative and assessor offers a pragmatic, detail-oriented approach that could be highly valuable in cases involving property disputes, assessments or economic issues impacting the district. Damato’s balanced approach and deep understanding of property law provide a unique skill set that complements Zollo’s focus on people-centered justice.
Together, Zollo and Damato represent two experienced, community-centered options for voters in Smithtown. Their combined backgrounds — Zollo’s personable approach and Damato’s technical expertise — provide a comprehensive choice for the district’s judicial needs.
Summary written with some assistance from ChatGPT’s services, and all information proofed and vetted by TBR’s editing team.
