Instead of practicing law, Chuck chose to run for the New York State Assembly from the forty-fifth district in Brooklyn after graduating law school in 1974. Although the odds were against him, he campaigned hard and won, and at the age of 23, became the youngest member in the State Legislature since Teddy Roosevelt. Chuck spent six years in the Assembly, where he:

• Wrote and passed legislation protecting cemeteries from vandalism by writing legislation requiring they be fenced and guarded.
• Wrote and passed legislation to limit noise pollution by banning motorcycles from residential streets between 9 pm and 8 am.
• Conducted study showing that unnecessary ambulance calls created life-threatening medical delays.
• Wrote and passed legislation encouraging efficient use of rent controlled properties.
• Sponsored legislation increasing penalties for arson in houses of worship.

Chuck at a meeting of members of the Assembly in June, 1977.

In the Assembly, Chuck served on Judiciary, Health, Education, and Cities committees, served as Chairman of the Subcommittee on City Management and Governance and as Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Investigation.