Nassau Legislature Candidates: Meet Nathan Wein

Voters in Nassau County will head to the polls Nov. 5 to cast their ballots for Legislator.

In District 3 — including Elmont, Valley Stream, South Floral Park, Inwood and portions of Lawrence and North Woodmere — voters will select from two candidates: incumbent Democrat Carrié Solages and Republican challenger Nathan Wein.

Patch reached out to both candidates to hear where they stand on important issues affecting the community.

Here are the responses for those who participated. The answers have been lightly edited for clarity.

Nathan Wein

• Age (as of Sept. 1, 2019): 28
• Town of Residence: Inwood
• Position Sought: District 3 Legislator
• Party Affiliation: Republican
• Family: Wife Rachel, 3-year-old son Remi, and 1-year-old daughter Eliana
• Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No
• Education: Current Law Student - Fordham Law School
• Occupation: Four years with KPMG doing Anti Money Laundering, owner of carpentry/woodworking business
• Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: None
• Campaign Website: www.wein2019.com

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Representation. We have so many issues where progress has remained stagnant. I will make my personal cell phone number available to everyone and take calls personally. Government is important, but community is even more important. I will be a vocal member of the community and always be there to help out in any way. There are people who need things that are so simple its a crime that they have remained unfixed for so long. A loose street lamp here, a small pothole there — these are things I could even fix personally. We need a representative who understands not only how to leverage government but also the power of community and fixing the small things themselves.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty — I am a carpenter and will not wait for months to fix something when I can do it myself. Or when we can have community volunteers complete the work. We all have to stress the big things, so lets work together to ensure that we don't stress the small things.

I get along with other people — as a member of the majority I will work across the aisle to get things done for our district which has essentially been forgotten. Inwood is arguably the poorest area in Nassau County.

I'm young — I understand how difficult it is too afford to live in Nassau County and I'm a member of the working class. I work sometimes until 3 a.m. covered in sawdust, trying to complete a project and yet I still have significant concerns about my ability to continue affording to live in Nassau.

I would be a part of the majority — our district has so many issues like dirty water, crumbling roads, a lack of street lamps, rising crime and the looming potential closure of our Five Towns Community Center. Working with the majority, I will be able to make serious advancement on these issues.

I'm honest — I'm not a career politician or someone who wants to stay in office just to stay in office. I won't give in to partisan politics or big donors. I'm here to protect the little guy who can't show up in the Legislature to make his voice heard because he works every single day from sunrise to sunset. I would never put my political aspirations before my morals or values. Given the current national political climate, we need honest and transparent politicians more than ever. I intend to be exactly that.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

The incumbent has failed to represent everyone, sets a poor example for our youth, and cannot get anything done because of his inability to work well with others.

There are large swathes of the district where people have never met the incumbent or even heard of him. People do not understand that they even have an elected official who is supposed to represent them. Often they ask me as a candidate to do something for them, and this is distressing. Although I'm always happy to help, a candidate should not be the first person to turn to — our legislator should make himself and his services know to everyone.

With national politics as they are, we need politicians who not only do their duty, but also serve as individuals we can look up to and aspire to be like. This requires a moral code that includes respect for all types of people, respect for your staff and respect for minorities and women. If we cannot respect our elected officials, there is a serious issue. Looking back at the incumbent's career, there have been too many incidents to detail here. We need a better option and we need it now.

To get things done, a legislator must work well with others, because politics is designed to be a give and take. This means we need to have good working relationships with members of our own party as well as members of the other party. If you cannot work well with others, it makes it harder to accomplish things for your constituents. This is why I believe that our district has been so neglected.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

Taxes: Often to high for working class and young people
Assessment: Botched and completed haphazardly
Dirty Water: Brown water makes everyday tasks impossible
Street Lamps: many roads are pitch black dark at night
Crime: we've had murders and armed robberies. There aren't enough officers.
Jobs: Young people don't have access to the employment they NEED
Community Center: the bond that holds our community together is under threat

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have a degree in economics from Queens College.
I understand and can fix Nassau's financial issues.

I was elevated to managerial positions on several KPMG projects.
I work well with others and know how to lead.

I taught myself carpentry and founded "Tables by Tulli."
I'm motivated and not afraid of hard work.

I have a wife and two children.
I understand families living requirements in Nassau County.

I worked with disabled children and homeless centers.
I intend to give a voice to those who are so often forgotten.

I'm a published poet who writes about suffering and trauma.
I feel other peoples pain and will work hard to help.

I was hand selected to join the Fordham Environmental Law Journal.
I value our environment and will work to protect it.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

"Its nice to be important, but its more important to be nice"

So many issues can be solved by putting yourself in someone else's shoes, feeling their pain, and putting the extra work in because you care. There is so much pain in this world, a smile or helping hand can change someones day, year, or even life.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I'm excited to be a vocal and outspoken advocate for our district. Let's get ready to make some changes here in the 3rd District!