Candidate Profile: Jorge C. Guadron For Islip Town Council

LONG ISLAND, NY - Suffolk County residents will be hitting the polls next month to elect several local representatives.

In addition to local town and village races, residents should look into who will be running to represent one of the 18 legislative districts in Suffolk County. This year, Election Day falls on Tuesday, November 5.

In anticipation of the big day, Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Jorge C. Guadron, 58, of Central Islip is running for Islip Town Council.

Challenger Guadron (D) earned his Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management from Nyack College. He currently works as a business owner. He was also previously the NYS Democratic Committee Male Member for the 6th A.D.

He lives with his wife, Irma Guadron, and has five children: Graciela M. Gutierrez (40) Ismael Cruz (38) Veronica Guadron (33) Obadiah Guadron (27) and Ellie Garcia (25).

Check out Patch's full Q&A with Guadron below:

Patch: The single most pressing issue facing our community is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Guadron: Irresponsible over-development and lack of inclusion of organized workers in municipal projects. Stop irresponsible over-development by giving a due and appropriate process with inclusion of the community leaders, local chambers of commerce, and our youth. Promote and adopt prevailing wage and apprenticeship program in municipal projects, fair and equal pay for all, and fight for our working families' benefits.

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

G: Their zoning changes approvals are compromised because Islip Town Board members have received campaign contributions from project owners.

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

G: Present Town Board members DO NOT LISTEN to our community's concerns, needs, issues. Their interests are the interests of big donors.

P: Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

G: Outrageous tax increases, out of control over-spending; I shall promote an accountable, accessible, and transparent Town of Islip governance.

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

G: I have been a member of the Salvadoran American Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors since 2009, serving as Director of Membership, Treasurer, Secretary, Executive Director, and on my second two-year term as president. Also, I have been elected to three consecutive terms as member of the NYS Democratic Committee for the 6th A.D. representing over 30,000 registered voters!

P: The best advice ever shared with me was ...

G: Listen to others!

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

G: I am in favor of organized workers and their fair inclusion in municipal projects, promote and adopt prevailing wage, and apprenticeship program. I have been endorsed by the Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO which conglomerates 250, 000 members; Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1108, which has 865 members; and the Building & Construction Trades Council of Nassau & Suffolk, AFL-CIO whith 60,000 members in Suffolk County.