Michael R. Long

Michael R. Long (born 1 February 1940) is the chairman of the Conservative Party of New York State. Long represented the Borough of Brooklyn, at-large on the New York City Council from 1981 to 1983.

Early life
The son of Myra and Michael Long, Long was born in Brooklyn, New York City, New York and raised in southern Queens. He attended Richmond Hill High School. He dropped out of the 12th grade in 1959 in order to join the United States Marine Corps where he served until being honorably discharged in 1961.

Career in politics
Long began working in politics as a volunteer for Barry Goldwater's 1964 presidential campaign. He has been the Conservative Party’s chairman and primary spokesman since 1988, advocating for smaller government, lower taxes, and the defense of socially conservative values. Long holds significant sway over the direction of the party and holds near-total control over the party's political endorsements in any legislative race that crosses a county border.

After representing the then abolished Brooklyn at-large New York City Council District, Long challenged sitting New York City Councilman Sal F. Albanese in 1985, for Bay Ridge's 31st District which was previously held by Republican Angelo J. Arculeo. Long was mentioned in the book Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bronx Is Burning, which documents the 1977 New York City mayoral election. In the first edition of the book, an account of mayoral candidate (and future Governor of New York) Mario Cuomo has him "cold-cocking" Long; Long stated that the incident was embellished, and later editions of the book corrected this.

A vocal and active opponent of same-sex marriage in New York State, Long has stated that no candidate who supports gay marriage will be allowed to run on the Conservative Party's line during elections.

Personal life
In 1963 Long married the former Eileen Dougherty. Together they have nine children (Michael, Matthew, James, Robert, Christopher, Francis, Edward, Eileen and Maureen) and 10 grandchildren.

Long's house in Breezy Point, Queens, burned down during Hurricane Sandy in October 2012.

Long's brother, Thomas Long, is the chairman of the Queens County chapter of the Conservative Party.