New York Senate District 7 Candidates: Meet Dave Franklin

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — The general election is less than two months away, and President Donald Trump isn't the only elected official on the ballot. In New York, state and federal elections will also be decided.

New York state Sen. Anna Kaplan, a Democrat from Great Neck, seeks re-election this year in District 7 against Republican challenger Dave Franklin.

Kaplan was born in Iran to a Jewish family, according to her Senate biography. Her parents sent her on her own to the United States for safety during the Islamic Revolution. She arrived in Brooklyn and was sent to live with a foster family in Chicago where she learned English and completed high school. Kaplan was later granted political asylum by the U.S. government.

After her family reunited, they moved to Queens, New York, where Kaplan graduated from Yeshiva University Stern College for Women, and later Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. She settled in Great Neck with her husband and two daughters. In 2011, Kaplan was elected as Town of North Hempstead councilwoman in District 4. She won election to the state Senate two years ago, making her the first political refugee and the first Iranian-American elected to the state Senate.

Franklin has lived in Port Washington for over three decades and served as a police commissioner for the Port Washington Police Department from 2011 to 2019. He managed dozens of uniformed officers and a $20 million budget, helped craft policy, negotiated fair contracts with the police union and helped restructure the administration.

Franklin also has private sector experience, working as a technician and engineer for HBO for nearly four decades.

Patch has attempted to reach out to both candidates to fill out our 2020 candidate questionnaire. Here are their responses, lightly edited for clarity.

See also:

• New York Senate District 7 Candidates: Meet Anna Kaplan
  
• Mail-In Voting In New York: Deadlines, How To Get A Ballot
• New Yorkers Can Now Apply Online For Absentee Ballot

Dave Franklin

Age as of Election Day (Nov. 3): 63

Town of residence: Port Washington

Position Sought: State Senate

Party Affiliation: Republican

Family: Wife, Susette. Sons Richard, Jonathan

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?: No

Education: St Louis University

Occupation: Operations Supervisor, RF Tech, Op Tech HBO. 1983-2019

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: Police Commissioner, PWPD 2011-2019

Campaign website: FranklinForSenate.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

To serve the public and restore public safety, common sense and decency to government. I will fight to create jobs and lower taxes, thus halting the mass exodus from our state. I will be the voice of the people.

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

Public safety. I intend to fight to repeal the Bail Reform Act which will restore discretion to judges to return dangerous criminals to jail. I support the police, who are needed more than ever now as crime and violence rates skyrocket out of control.

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

I look to repeal the Bail Reform Act and put criminals in jail. My opponent voted in favor of that bill. I came out in support of police and against the violence. my opponent has remained silent. I am in favor of common sense and decency in Government, my opponent co-sponsored a Street Walking Bill to allow prostitutes to legally solicit sex for pay on our streets.

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

Criminals get released without bail. People are leaving the state at a rate of 270 per day to more tax friendly, business friendly states. Small businesses are closing. Too many for sale and/or for rent signs in our district.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

I will fight to repeal Bail Reform. I support the police. I will fight to create jobs which will help to lower taxes. I will ALWAYS put people over politics.

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

In nine years as police commissioner, I helped lower costs, managed 65 uniformed officers and a $20 million budget, helped craft policy, negotiated fair contracts with the PBA and helped restructure administration. We took a proactive approach to training, and in 2019 Port Washington was named the safest town in New York.

The best advice ever shared with me was: Be true to yourself.

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

I learned what a community was all about when I moved to Port Washington 33 years ago. As a result, I did whatever I could to serve the community as a resident and public servant. I will bring that same attitude of serving the public to Albany.