NY State Assembly
State Assembly – 19th District (The newly configured 19th district includes New Hyde Park, Mineola, the Willistons, Carle Place, Old Westbury, and Glen Head.)
Term: 2 years
Vote for One
Salary: $75,000/year
(Questions asked by the League of Women Voters)
1) Priorities: What would be your top three priorities if elected?
2) Economy: What should the federal government do to strengthen the national economy and reduce unemployment?
3) Hydraulic Fracturing: Do you favor introducing high-volume, horizontal hydraulic fracturing in New York? What legislation is needed to ensure safety, manage costs and protect New Yorkers?
4) Campaign Finance: Would you propose any changes to campaign finance regulation and enforcement in New York State? Please explain your answer.
5) Voter Turnout: Since New York’s voter turnout is extremely low, ranking 47th out of 50, what legislation would you support or introduce to increase voter turnout and enfranchisement?
Gary B. Port (DEM)
Parties: Democrat
Campaign Web Site: www.GaryPortforAssembly.com
Education: NYU- BA 1983 Brooklyn Law School 1986 Judge Advocate Officer’s Basic Course 1987 Judge Advocate Officer’s Advanced Course 1994 Command and General Staff College 1998
Qualifications: United States Army – 1986 – Present. Lieutenant Colonel. Legal adviser to a division commander and Ethics Officer. Assistant District Attorney, Kings County 1990-1993. Founder and senior Partner of Port and Sava. Founder and two term past president of the West Hempstead Chamber of Commerce. Coached little league and softball for 8 years. Scoutmaster and on the Boyscout District committee.
Answer Q1: Economic Development for the district. We need to Work to find creative solutions to reduce property taxes, to include paring down unfunded school mandates and capping school superintendent’s salaries. We need to address the environmental issues in district to include seeking state and federal monies to replace storm drains with a sewage treatment system.
Answer Q2: The Coliseum property must be developed. Since the Town of Hempstead controls the zoning, and the Town government is openly and blatantly anti-development we are blocked from any realistic plan. The solution is for the State is to use existing laws to remove planning and zoning from the town. A concerted plan using these broader laws must be put into effect. This cannot be done haphazardly, as the Town of Hempstead will vigorously litigate against any effort to develop the Coliseum area.
Answer Q3: The promise is great: it can turn New York into a new energy exporter and reduce our overall taxes. However not all of the treated water is recovered in the process. While the water is pumped below the water table, there are serious and legitimate concerns that this contaminated water can, through underground pressure, infiltrate the water supply. There are also concerns about the proper disposal of the contaminated water.I support the Governor’s plan of a pilot program.
Answer Q4: At present the contribution limits are too high. Further, we need a real ethics watch dog with teeth to investigate contribution “stacking”. Also, there are serious complaints that patronage employees in local government are required to contribute significant portions of their salary. Laws must be tightened up to prevent incumbents from using tax payer money to send out campaign literature under the guise of “information.” No mailings should be allowed after May 1st in any election year.
Answer Q5: Votes feel disenfranchised as there is little turn over for public office. By not voting, it become part of a self-fulfilling prophesy. This results in office holders becoming entrenched and voters losing any faith that their vote matter. One solution would be mandatory term limits. This would open up offices more frequently then once every generation.
Edward P. Ra (REP, CON, IND, TRP)
Parties: Republican, Conservative, Independence, Tax Revolt
Campaign Web Site: www.voteedra.com
Education: LL.M., Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, J.D., St. John’s University School of Law, B.A., Loyola University in Maryland
Qualifications: Previously worked in the Town of Hempstead Attorney’s Office as a Deputy Town Attorney and as a Legal Aide in the New York State Attorney General’s Office dealing with constituent issues on a daily basis.
Key Endorsements: New York Nurses Association, National Federation of Independent Business-New York, New York State Public Employees Federation, Superior Officers Association of Nassau County, Nassau County Detectives Association, Fire Marshall Benevolent Association of Nassau County
Answer Q1: 1) In addition to continued fiscal restraint, we must reform and repeal the myriad of unfunded mandates that handcuff our schools and municipal governments 2) We must enact pro-growth legislation like rolling back corporate taxes on small businesses to help promote new jobs and improve our business climate 3) By properly funding our elementary and high schools and promoting technological innovation in our colleges we will ensure our next generation is ready to compete in a global economy
Answer Q2: As mentioned above we must improve our state’s business climate which has been ranked 2nd to last in the entire United States. We must not only address the regulations and high taxes that stymie growth but also enact pro-business measures like the New Jobs NY package that was adopted by the State Senate this past legislative session. Further, we need to give small businesses the ability to compete fairly for state contracts with larger companies to ensure our tax dollars are reinvested in NY.
Answer Q3: I believe it is the province of the environmental experts at the DEC to issue regulations and a report as to whether hydrofracking is safe for NY based on proper scientific study. I would further favor legislation to ensure that fracking waste-water is characterized as hazardous waste when it meets the definition of such, prevent such waste from being treated by publicly owned waste-water treatment facilities and ensure wells are drilled a safe distance from watersheds and wells.
Answer Q4: I believe we should be more restrictive as to how campaign money may be spent in New York State and close up some of the loopholes that allow for unlimited donations to “housekeeping” accounts.
Answer Q5: I think this starts with the youth in our electorate. We need to make them believe that their voices are being heard and that their votes matter. I don’t think this is accomplished legislatively but rather through outreach, particularly engaging voters through social media and other technological platforms. I will continue to use things like Facebook and Twitter along with online chats and town halls as a means of interacting with constituents in the future.
