Nassau County Legislature District 18
Description:
Candidates (choose 1):
Timothy Jenks
Party: REP
Biographical Info:
Campaign Phone: (516) 669-2645
Campaign Web Site: https://timothyajenks.com
Campaign Email: me@timothyajenks.com
City/Town of Residence: Glen Head
Prior Civic Service: N/A
Questions:
Q: What two or three specific actions would you take to help reduce the real estate tax burden on Nassau County residents?
A: I would push for the assessment bill of rights that our current county executive just vetoed. I would also hold clinics on how taxpayers can grieve their property taxes.
Q: On a Scale of 1-5, with 5 being the most and 1 being the least, how much do you consider climate change an important issue, particularly how it may affect Long Island (i.e. flooding, erosion, rising sea levels)? What steps would you take to address this issue?
A: 5. I think that as an Island, we are certainly going to be impacted by climate change. I would prepare our coastal areas for potential hazards and encourage carbon emissions to be kept at a minimum.
Q: What will you do to increase resident involvement in the decision-making process in Nassau County?
A: I believe that the taxpayers should be the ones choosing their elected assessor. It is very unfortunate that it did not pass in the legislature. I would encourage local residents to research their candidates and truly understand their intentions before voting in November.
Q: What specific steps will you take to ensure more transparency?
A: I believe that transparency is everything. I do not keep things in the dark. As a member of the younger generation on Long Island, I am very active with social media. Social media is one way to ensure transparency, which could spread news quickly and efficiently. I would also encourage the county tax assessor’s office to provide taxpayers with a THOROUGH explanation of their reassessments, so that people can fully understand where their money is going.
Joshua Alexander Lafazan
Party: DEM, CON, WFP, IND
Biographical Info:
Campaign Phone: (516) 761-3691
Campaign Web Site: https://www.joshlafazan.com
Campaign Email: Josh@JoshLafazan.com
City/Town of Residence: Woodbury
Prior Civic Service: Syosset School Board of Education Trustee, 2012-2017
Questions:
Q: What two or three specific actions would you take to help reduce the real estate tax burden on Nassau County residents?
A: As a millennial Long Islander, my generation is uniquely familiar with the high real state tax burden, as it remains a massive inhibitor towards youth home ownership. First and foremost, as school taxes make up the majority of a homeowner’s property tax burden, we must continue to pressure school districts to share services and raise revenue outside of the tax base. As a Syosset School Board Trustee, I was able to help deliver the lowest property tax increase in 25 years through prudent spending and creative solutions to fix the issues at hand. Secondly, governments everywhere must take a hard look at wasteful spending. From politicians sending taxpayer-funded mailers that are essentially campaign materials, to representatives who continue to spend money putting their names on signs, buildings, and show-mobiles, to elected officials kicking the can down the road as opposed to making the tough decisions now, my generation is tired of seeing inaction taking precedence over pragmatism.
Q: On a Scale of 1-5, with 5 being the most and 1 being the least, how much do you consider climate change an important issue, particularly how it may affect Long Island (i.e. flooding, erosion, rising sea levels)? What steps would you take to address this issue?
A: 5 – Climate change is an existential crisis for our planet, and living on an island, Long Islanders are amongst those most vulnerable when it comes to the repercussions of climate change. I am so proud over the course of my career to have been endorsed by groups such as the League of Conservation Voters, and my record on the environment has been sterling. I am proud to have voted to fund water quality initiatives here in Nassau to protect our most precious natural resource. I am proud to have co- sponsored the 5-cent plastic bag fee in Nassau County in the hopes of eliminating plastic waste from our ecosystem. I am proud to have successfully fought for expanded recycling programs while on the Syosset School Board. And I am proud to continue to be a strong voice for protecting the Long Island Sound here on the north shore. With the national government failing to take a leadership position on this issue, local governments must step up to be a strong protector of our environment.
Q: What will you do to increase resident involvement in the decision-making process in Nassau County?
A: My office continues to serve as an example when it comes to increasing resident involvement in decision-making. My office hosts regularly scheduled town halls in every community across the 18th District, and now hosts “Java with Josh” events to allow any resident to meet with me over a cup of coffee. I maintain an open-door meeting policy, where any resident with any issue can see me directly to have their problems addressed. Lastly, I continue to be an avid user of social media, where residents of any age can reach me 24 hours a day without having to travel to Mineola, and I am able to respond immediately to their concerns.
Q: What specific steps will you take to ensure more transparency?
A: Since I ran for the school board as a teenager, I have made transparency a priority in every campaign I have ever run. As a legislator, I continue to be the only elected official on Long Island who provides a written justification for every single vote I have taken in Mineola. I live-stream every press conference I host and send regular emails to the community alerting my constituents of key votes taking place or major issues in the community. Most importantly, I consistently reach out to my constituents to gain feedback before I take an action on their behalf, which brings more and more sunlight to the legislative process.
