The philosopher, William James said: “We are like islands in the sea, separate on the surface but connected in the deep.”
This quote is indicative of our current Democratic congressional, senatorial and Assembly candidates for the 2020 election. While these candidates are like their own separate islands, they govern independently, yet they coordinate their efforts with unity. All of them are committed to public service and connected to meeting the needs of each and every constituent. It is gratifying to note that in the midst of a pandemic, these candidates have tirelessly put their efforts and ideas into play to connect themselves to each other for continuity as well as their constituents.
The candidates I refer to are Congressman Tom Suozzi, who represents New York’s 3rd Congressional District, now campaigning for a third term; the second term re-election for state Sen. Anna Kaplan in the 7th District; and Gina Silliti, a first-time candidate in the 16th Assembly District.
In essence, they are a team, but individually their attributes and accomplishments are the following:
Congressman Tom Suozzi has worked diligently on a number of initiatives which include: leading an entire New York delegation comprised of Republicans and Democrats to obtain federal money for hospitals. He devoted his efforts to persuade banks and financial institutions to guarantee that small businesses had access to loans and grants provided in the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES, regardless of their size. He introduced legislation to fully restore the state and local tax deduction (SALT), which was then passed in 2019. He was a co-sponsor of the Dream Act. On healthcare, he believes we must build on President Obama’s Affordable Care Act and supports measures to reduce the cost of prescription drugs. He has voted on gun safety legislation, such as universal background checks and banning assault weapons. He has committed himself to combat veteran suicides, has secured tens of millions of dollars for housing and other programs that would enable veterans to transition back to civilian life.
Sen. Anna Kaplan has more than met enormous challenges in her first term in office. Her daily newsletters with updates on the pandemic were tantamount to being humanly impossible. Her first vote was on the The Reproductive Health Act, which passed immediately after her election. She took a strong stand on support of gun safety measures, which included the Red Flag Law and Safe Storage Ordinance to become the lead sponsor to implement programs to raise awareness about hate crimes in the public schools.
Senator Kaplan serves as the chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business. As such, she has introduced various legislation such as providing sales tax exemptions for the purchase of PPE and tax-deferred savings accounts for small businesses.
Although Gina Sillitti has not been an elected official, her resume reads like one. Her career has been extensive and multifaceted. For nearly 20 years Gina has worked in various levels of government. Her positions included chief of staff and director of Legislative Affairs to Nassau County Legislator Dave Mejias, deputy commissioner of Community Services for the Town of North Hempstead, deputy chief of staff and director of Legislative Affairs under former Supervisor Jon Kaiman, director of Public Affairs Supervisor under Judi Bosworth, and human resources director of the Nassau County Board of Elections.
The candidate, Gina Sillitti is certain to follow in the able footsteps of May Newburger, Tom DiNapoli, Michelle Schimel and Tony D’urso, She is well acquainted with the system and capable of continuing in the same strong, caring mode in the 16th Assembly as those who served before her in the body. Gina is a blend of passion and experience. Given those qualities, she is vitally committed to being accessible to all her constituents and enacting legislation in all areas of government, such as safeguarding our environment and election reform.
Your vote for these three candidates would continue their intertwined connection and benefit all those constituents whom they are connected to.
Lois Schaffer
Great Neck
