[3] In 1988, Luongo ran and won as the Democratic candidate for mayor of Washington Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey.
[6][7] In 1997, he was elected to the General Assembly, winning a seat with Republican running mate and incumbent George Geist.
[11][12] Luongo proposed legislation in 1999 to create an official New Jersey Nature Card that could be used for debit and credit transactions by residents and would earn money for the state based on the volume of purchases to fund endangered species protection and other environmental efforts, similar to a program that had already been initiated in Washington Township that had raised $30,000 for recreation in the township.
He was ordered by U.S. District Judge Anne Elise Thompson to make restitution of nearly $15,000, along with fines in excess of $20,000, which in total equal the amount that Luongo misappropriated as stipulated in his plea agreement.
[15] After his release, Luongo attempted to form a new charter school in Gloucester County but his request was denied by the state.