In a way, these facts, coupled with his unique heritage — he is a Roman Catholic Guyanese with a Hindu dad and Muslim mom who are Catholic converts — make him ordinary, if only because the district he wants to represent is exactly like him, he said: progressive and eclectic.
   Samaroo is one of seven candidates vying to fill the vacant District 38 Assembly seat, which encompasses Richmond Hill, Ozone Park, Glendale, Woodhaven, Middle Village and Ridgewood. The office was left up for grabs when former Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio resigned on June 23 and, one day later, pleaded guilty to scheming to defraud in a Manhattan court. Samaroo is hoping to capture the Democratic endorsement in the primary election, which is expected to take place in September, unless Gov. David Paterson calls for a special election.
   “I have the ability and record of working with diverse groups, and this is one of the top five diverse districts in the city,”Samaroo said. “In the last 10 years, for whatever reason, the set of values Seminerio came to Albany with were lost. It’s not just that he was convicted by guilty plea; he did not represent the 38th District. This is a progressive Democratic seat, not a conservative seat.”
   Despite what some might call idiosyncrasies, including the fact that he was accepted into Bronx High School of Science but turned it down to enroll at Queens Gateway to Health Sciences and Secondary School, Samaroo followed a traditional path to politics. He was community liaison in the state Assembly and a member of Community Board 9. He worked with the nonprofit organization Agenda 21 to secure funding for Smokey Oval Park and is a member of the Knights of St. Peter Claver, a national Catholic fraternal organization.
   And then there’s the whole McLaughlin debacle — which Samaroo’s opponents have already indicated could be a thorn in his side throughout the campaign.
   Samaroo worked as a community liaison and aide for McLaughlin in 2003 and said he was as shocked as the public to learn his boss was guilty of stealing money from Little Leagues, lawmakers and his own union.
   “On Wednesday he gave me a raise, and on Friday he fired me,” Samaroo said. “I was not aware of anything going on. I thought we had an excellent working relationship and was hurt when I found out.”
   Five years later, Samaroo made the decision to enlist in the U.S. Army and serve his country in Afghanistan. He was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and spent 12 months with the 1st Infrantry Division, 3rd Infantry Brigade. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for military merit, as well as six other decorations. Serving in a combat zone helped him grow up quickly and gain invaluable leadership skills and an appreciation for service, Samaroo said.
   “I wanted to serve in my country — it was really that simple,” he said. “I always had a passion for Afghanistan and believe we went there for the right reasons.”
   One of the issues Samaroo feels most passionately about is helping veterans returning to the United States from Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as older heroes from past battles.
   “I have seen the effects of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and I think we can do better,” he said. “Where federal government slacks off, state and local government have to pick up the slack. A vet should not have to travel miles to get adequate care. Those better equipped to deal with returning soldiers are the communities in which they reside.”
   Some of the other problems he said he sees while driving around the district is neglected, aging infrastructure, inadequate bus and train transportation, rapid overdevelopment and a lack of economic development and job creation strategy in the area.
   “There is no partnership between the private and public sectors,” he said. “Because there was a vacuum of leadership under Seminerio.”
   Though news about McLaughlin and Seminerio may have discouraged other political hopefuls from continuing down that path, Samaroo said one elected official deserves most of the credit for his decision to run.
   “Mr. Obama is my inspiration for running,” he said. “It never would have entered my head that an ordinary soldier could come back home and represent his government. The night he was elected, I was overseas and watched it from a live feed. I was extremely proud to be in Afghanistan wearing the uniform of my country.”