Nassau County Legislature Candidates: Meet Arnie Drucker

PLAINVIEW, NY — Nassau County voters will head to the polls Nov. 5 to cast their ballots for legislature. In the District 16 race, incumbent Democratic Legislator Arnie Drucker is defending his seat against Jennifer Garber, a registered Democrat running on the Republican line.

The district includes the communities of Plainview, Old Bethpage, Jericho, Syosset, Woodbury, Hicksville, Old Westbury and Roslyn Heights.

Patch reached out to both candidates via email and/or Facebook to hear where they stand on important issues affecting the community.

Below are their responses, which have been lightly edited for clarity.

Arnie Drucker

• Age (as of Sept. 1): 62
• Town of residence: Plainview
• Position sought: Re-Election to Nassau County Legislature
• Party affiliation: Democrat.
• Family: Wife, Franny; Son, Noah; Daughter, Rachel; Grandson, Liam.
• Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? My daughter is an assistant district attorney in the Queens District Attorney's Office.
• Education: State University of New York at Buffalo, bachelor of arts; Rutgers University School of Law, juris doctorate.
• Occupation: Attorney-at-law since 1982.
• Previous or current elected or appointed office: Nassau County Legislator - District 16
• Campaign Website: Facebook.com/Re-ElectArnieDruckerForLegislator

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

Restoring integrity and trust in our county government by providing the necessary legislative oversight relative to the re-evaluation of all properties in Nassau County and ensuring that everyone pays the correct and equitable share of real estate taxes. I have committed to providing my constituents with the necessary tools and information in order to evaluate their assessed values of their homes and to continue to hold the Department of Assessment accountable for accurate assessments by continuing to grieve their taxes. I have supported this initiative to overhaul our prior property tax assessment system which was plagued by corruption, patronage and inequity in which thousands of taxpayers were being assessed inaccurate values for their homes resulting in a dysfunctional and broken system in which tax rolls were fraudulently frozen in order to give the false impression that taxes were not being raised.

See also: Nassau County Legislature Candidates: Meet Jennifer Garber

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

My 37 years as an attorney owning and operating my own law practice, coupled with my lifelong residence in Plainview, have given me the skill set to provide the necessary critical oversight of county affairs with respect to the analysis of the county budget; evaluating and approving or disapproving third-party vendor contracts as well as procurement contracts; drafting, approving and vetting proposed legislation by other legislators; and finally, being aware of all issues concerning my legislative district. My opponent doesn't come close to matching any of the above-stated experience and skill-set.

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

Not applicable.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Continuing my initiatives to protect the health, safety and quality of life for my constituents by monitoring my legislation that has been enacted which endeavors to protect our children as they board school buses by pushing for the banning of all flavored vaping and electronic cigarettes that has become and epidemic not only in my district, but all over this country. I have also worked hard to secure the funding to repave over 22 miles of county roads in my district and I will continue to push for more funding to complete all the county roads in my district. I have also passed legislation ensuring that all Nassau County employees work in a safe workplace environment, free of any sexual harassment or discrimination. I am also committed to do all that is necessary to protect Long Island's most precious resource, our water, and to continue monitoring the state of our sole source for our water, namely the underground aquifers, which are in danger of contamination.

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

Over the past three years, I have filed more than 10 pieces of legislation and even being in the minority on the Legislature, I have been able to build consensus with my majority counterparts, and was able to get about 10 bills passed. I was able to get a Tobacco 21 law passed in Nassau County, whereas my predecessor couldn't get it done in the almost 20 years she held the position. I have also passed laws regarding the unlawful dissemination or distribution of explicit images without consent, which is now punishable by a fine and possible imprisonment. I have been able to pass a ban on advertising vape products in any store within 1,000 feet of a store, park, camp, playground or recreational facility.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

Stand up and fight for justice and fairness for all because as Martin Luther King said, "injustice somewhere is injustice everywhere." Everyone has a voice and in our democracy that voice deserves to be heard.

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

Even though I am a lifelong Democrat, because I believe in the core values of the democratic party in terms of advocating for all people regardless of their race, color, creed, ethnicity, national origin, sexual preference, sexual or gender identity, at the local level, I believe in doing what's right for people regardless of political influence. I ran for county legislator in 2016, after never having held an elected position before, because I saw this position as an opportunity to give back to the community that I was raised in and spent my whole life living in, including having raised my own two children here, and with a new 4-month-old grandson in Plainview. I am always compelled to look at everything from an ethical standpoint first, and then to evaluate the pros and cons from a number of other perspectives before I arrive at a position.