NY Primary Election 2020: Nora Higgins In Race For LaValle's Seat

RIDGE, NY — Voters on Long Island will head to the polls Tuesday to cast their ballots for state and federal offices in New York's primary election.

That includes the 1st Senate District, where a slate of Democrats are hoping to join the race against Republican candidate, current New York State Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo, for the seat held by retiring New York State Senator Kenneth LaValle for 44 years.

Democrats Nora Higgins, Laura Ahearn, Tommy John Schiavoni, Skyler Johnson, and Valerie Cartright are facing off in Tuesday's Democratic primary.

The election is slated for Tuesday, June 23. Under Gov. Andrew Cuomo's order, all registered voters in the state must receive a mail-in ballot application to apply for a postage-paid absentee ballot amid the coronavirus. All ballots postmarked by June 23 will be counted.
District: The 1st New York State Senate district covers the five East End towns and the eastern portion of Brookhaven Town.

Patch has reached out to all the candidates in the primary election. Here are their responses:

Nora Margaret Higgins

Age as of Election Day (Nov. 3)

53

Town of residence

Ridge

Position Sought

State Senate

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Four children 23 to 27, four stepchildren 25 to 31, and seven grandchildren (almost) 1 through 12 .

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

AAS, BSN, MSN all in nursing

Occupation

RN, 32 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Elected 2015 and 2018 as regional coordinator on Long Island for NYS Public Employees Federation

Campaign website

Www.nursenora4nysenate1.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

To be a voice for healthcare, labor, and those who can not be heard.

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

Disparity in earnings and taxation.

Encourage Senate members to finally move on taxation on the millionaire, and billionaires. And have it be enforced.

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

I have lived a life similar to many of the residents in the district. I grew up relatively poor, physically and sexually abused and the last of six children. Continue to work paycheck to paycheck and have gone without while raising four children, ages; 6,6,8, and 10 as a single mother for 12 years.

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

This is a vacated seat by retirement.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I have been working with COVID patients at Stony Brook University Hospital, and watched as the healthcare system unraveled. I believe we need to reform healthcare, both for representation of all individuals, and the for-profit mentality that contributed to the gross mishandling of the pandemic. I will also be a voice for labor.

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

I became a steward in 1998 and have been helping people understand their rights, and maintain their jobs. For PEF I held / hold multiple leadership positions; executive board, executive council, statewide Nurses Committee co-chair, SUNY Labor Management chair. Statewide Political Action member and chair of Long Island Executive Board and executive council secretary for the Long Island Federation of Labor. True to my nursing profession, I sit on a national professional policy committee under my parent union AFT, and am currently awaiting formal inauguration, at the end of June, to be the president of the Professional Nurses Association Of Suffolk County.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Treat others how you wish to be treated.

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

Regardless of all “the hats” I wear, I don’t lie, cheat, or steal. I put 110 percent effort in all the jobs/duties I fulfill.