State Senate

When politicians have been in office as long as State Senator Kenneth LaValle - 20 years - it would be fair to expect them to have accumulated some negative baggage along the way. Senator LaValle seems, like President Reagan, to be Teflon-coated.

Admitting that he is ready now to move on, he does not speak of retirement, but of the possibility of an appointive office in the area of his expertise - the State Education Department. Mr. LaValle's seniority has made him effective in getting legislation and grant money for his district. It also has given him the experience, particularly in educational matters, to see where compromises may be reached and progress made on necessary reforms in State Education Law, where others see only conflict. He has our endorsement.

His opponent, Gerald T. Manginelli, is an innovator and full of ideas about many things, from alternative sources of energy to restructuring state government itself. To our ears, however, he does not sound like a formidable candidate. His arguments during a recent interview at The Star seemed more suited to classroom debate than to the legislative process. Although he may think he has to toss everything he possibly can into the ring to gain even a respectable showing against so successful a Senate veteran, he left us with a feeling of insecurity about how he might perform in office.