Meet The Candidates: Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick For Assembly

MALVERNE, NY — Nov. 3 is Election Day in the United States. And while the presidential race is dominating the headlines, there are many down-ballot races that are also incredibly important. These races will shape the makeup of Congress, as well as New York's Senate and Assembly.

Republican Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick is challenging incumbent Judy Griffin to represent the 21st Assembly District.

The 21st AD includes Lynbrook, Rockville Centre, Malverne, South Hempstead, Baldwin and parts of Freeport, West Hempstead, Oceanside, East Rockaway, Lakeview, Hewlett, Hempstead, Franklin Square, and Valley Stream.

Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, 55, is a lawyer who has long been involved in the government of her home village of Malverne. She is a former Malverne Village Trustee, a former school board trustee at St. Thomas the Apostle in West Hempstead, a former member of the Nassau County Sewer and Storm Water Finance Authority and a former member of the Malverne Tree and Beautification Committee.

She lives in Malverne with her husband, Kevin, and her four children.

Patch reached out to the candidates to get more information about them. Here's what Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick said:

Why are you seeking elective office?

My parents instilled in me and my siblings a sense of pride and service to community. That’s why I served on the Malverne Village Board.

I’m running for the State Assembly to give back. It’s solely about my community, my neighbors, and my family. They are my motivation. I’m running because I look around and I see that our state in complete disarray. From crime, to COVID, to out of control spending and taxes. I can’t sit idly by any longer and watch the state continue to burn.

We need an independent voice in Albany who will advocate for the residents of the 21st Assembly District and try to change the direction this state is heading. We don't have that right now. My opponent voted with New York City Democrats 97 percent of the time. I will use common sense, my experience and my education to be the strong advocate this district's deserves.

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

Safety of our communities on all levels. The "bail reform" law has caused thousands of criminals to be released into our communities and judges are powerless to stop this result. We also need to safely open our businesses so that our economy can recover.

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

I have an agenda that is in touch with “Main Street,” Long Island, not extreme left-wing politicians. I am a parent who is concerned about the safety of our families. I am an advocate for the safe and responsible re-opening of our businesses and our society, while my opponent supports Gov. Cuomo's closures and has not voted to return power to the legislature after six months. Finally, it is time to stop the “tax and spend” policies of Albany’s one-party rule.

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

My opponent supported the disastrous "bail reform" bill — which released over 3,000 inmates from our local jails who committed over 9,000 new crimes — and provides accused rapists with their victim's names and contact information. I will fight to repeal this bill that's created unsafe streets throughout the state.

One of her first votes raised taxes over $4 billion, putting the state deeper in debt, and created a $1 billion commuter tax on travelers into Manhattan, against the interests of the residents of our district.

This year's state budget has slashed school aid. Funding is down $2.3 million in the 21st Assembly District, including two underserved districts, and slashed over $1.1 billion in school aid statewide.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

The response to the coronavirus pandemic is obviously critical. I volunteered with Hempstead Town officials, advocating for relief supplies and programs for our communities. They have answered the call, opening pop-up food pantries, delivering meals to seniors, furnishing grant monies to area hospitals, providing PPE kits to area businesses and supplying free COVID tests to residents.

Unfortunately, my opponent has not provided enough direct assistance to the community or done enough to publicize COVID relief resources in the community. In fact, she has been silent on the state’s COVID nursing home scandal. As the state’s policy of placing COVID-positive patients in nursing homes has resulted in a reported 6,500 deaths, state legislators have refused to subpoena Department of Health officials to get to the bottom of the scandal and make sure that it never happens again. That’s unacceptable, and I will demand answers in Albany.

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

While on the Malverne Village Board, we balanced the budget, increased our surplus, and earned an AA+ credit bond rating from Standard & Poors as a direct result of the strong fiscal policies. We maintained services to our residents and carefully managed our finances while being burdened with unfunded mandates from the NYS legislature. Additionally, I served as police commissioner, and Malverne was named one of the safest communities in the state.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

"Work at something you truly love doing and you will be successful." I love serving my community and it was a privilege to serve the residents of Malverne on the village board. I would like to continue my service to my community by serving in the assembly and advocating for the interests of the 21st Assembly District. I have been fortunate enough to obtain not only my bachelors degree, but also my law degree and a masters, and I want to use these achievements to further serve my community. To serve your community effectively a person must do it for the right reasons and not for political gain.

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

I will be your independent voice in Albany. I will seek input from my constituents before voting on important legislation from across the spectrum and won't be afraid to speak up against things that hurt the residents of my district. For me, it's about representing the district fairly and not political interests.