Candidate Profie: Andrew Garbarino For Congress

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY - New Yorkers will be hitting the polls on June 23 for the primary election to choose which representatives will be running will be on the ballot for the general election in November.

Among the local races, Long Islanders will be able to elect who will run for New York's second congressional district. The seat was occupied by longtime longtime U.S. Rep. Pete King, who announced in November he will not be seeking re-election this year.

The district covers Levittown, North Wantagh, Seaford, South Farmingdale and Massapequa. Suffolk County communities include Amityville, Copiague, Lindenhurst, Gilgo, West Babylon, Wyandanch, North Babylon, Babylon, Baywood, Brentwood, Brightwaters, Central Islip, Islip, Great River, Ocean Beach, Oakdale, West Sayville, Bohemia, West Islip and Ronkonkoma.

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

Andrew Garbarino, 36, of Bayport is running for the republican seat for U.S. Congress.

Mike LiPetri will also be running for the republican ballot while Jackie Gordon and Patricia Maher are both running for the democratic ballot.

Garbarino is currently working as a Member of Assembly since 2013 as well as an attorney since 2010. His brother is an Assistant Town Attorney in the Town of Islip

He received his JD from Hofstra Law School and his BA from The George Washington University.

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

Patch: Why are you seeking elective office?

Garbarino: I have been an elected official since 2013, serving the south shore of Long Island from Brightwaters - Patchogue. Through my tenure, I have been able to do a lot of good for my community as a whole and for my constituents on individual basis. I have been able to develop statewide and national relationships that allowed me to further the interests of my district. As a Member of Congress, I will be able to help people and my community on a larger level. Congressman Pete King always fought to do what was right for his community. I promise to continue to fight for the district like he did and I am proud to have his support in this race.

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

G: There isn't a single most pressing issue facing my community. The thing about Long Island is that it is a diverse place and with diverse places, there are diverse problems. My job as an elected official is to try to make the every day lives of my constituents better. I have spent the last 7+ years helping constituents and making their lives better either through individual requests or through improvements to my community. Restoring the SALT deduction, investing in infrastructure like roads and sewers, fighting against MS-13, protecting the Great South Bay are all issues that are important to my constituents and issues I will fight for.

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

G: As a legislator for 7+ years and an attorney that ran a small practice, I have the experience to go to Congress and know the issues that are already being discussed. Healthcare, Insurance, Environment, Taxes, Criminal Law are all items I have a deep knowledge of and will be able to hit the ground running when I go to Washington. There will not be any on the job learning for me. Also, as someone who ran a small business, I know the needs of small businesses. I know what businesses need to survive, to expand, to succeed, and I know what hurts them. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and they need to be protected and I know how do do that.

As for my Republican Primary opponent. He is a former Democrat that worked for Mayor Bill De Blasio. He doesn't support term limits. He has been in the legislature for less than one term and doesn't have an understanding of many of the issues we are facing as a community. He has never paid real property taxes or run a small business. His work experience has recently been called into question by Newsday.

I am someone that people have worked with for a long time and people know where I stand because I am transparent. My opponent switches back and forth so much that he doesn't even know what he stands for.

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

G: I am not a challenger. I am running to replace Peter King. For 28 years, Peter King has represented the south shore of Long Island and he has done a great job. I am very proud to have his support as well as the support of many other local elected officials to replace him.

In my primary, my challenger has failed his community by Voting No on the Clean Air and Water Amendment. As someone who represents an area of Nassau County that has been dealing with a toxic plume for decades, I don't know how you can vote against a bill that deals with clean water. His predecessor Joe Saladino fought for years to have the plume addressed.

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

G: Restoring the SALT tax deduction is a huge issue that is part of my campaign. Real Property Taxes and Income taxes are a heavy burden on my constituents and the loss of the deduction has burdened them even more. It is imperative that the deduction be reinstated fully.

Additionally, I would like to focus on infrastructure. Driving on the southern state highway or the northern state or the LIE, there are potholes everywhere. We need federal money to make sure that these roads can be repaired. People use these roads everyday and they deserve to drive to and from work without worrying about hitting potholes every 10 ft.

I would also like to continue to bring federal money home to combat MS-13. A few years ago, bodies of MS-13 murder victims were being found monthly in our communities. Congressman King helped bring home federal dollars and federal law enforcement support. This, along with local police, allowed us to put MS-13 on its heels. Once we let up even a little, MS-13 will be back looking to take over the communities again.

Rebuilding the economy after COVID-19 is a big issue of my campaign. NY was the epicenter of the disease and it was hurt much more than other states. We need to make sure that NY can come back stronger than ever and that we have the support to bring back the jobs we lost. As a Member of Congress, I will fight to loosen up Federal Rules and Regulations so business can grow faster and bigger.

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

G: The thousands and thousand of constituent service requests that I have handled throughout my 4 terms in the Assembly show that I know my job as a legislator is not to make just my life better, but to make my constituents' lives better. I will continue to do that with my larger constituency in the Congressional District. Additionally, my experience debating and passing legislation in both Albany as well as part of the National Council of Insurance Legislators is great experience for when I move on to Congress.

P: The best advice ever shared with me was:

G: When I was growing up my mom always said to me "Andrew, make sure you do the right thing". That has always stuck with me. In my life when there was a tough decision I had to make or a tough action I had to take, I always remembered hearing my mom in the back of my head saying, "Andrew, make sure you do the right thing". I am proud to say that because of my mom, I am confident that in my life I have done the right things.

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

G: I am an honest person that cares deeply about my community. I grew up here, my dad grew up here and started a local business, and my grandfather grew up here and started a local business. I will always do the right thing for my community. I want to be an effective legislator and want to make my constituents ever day lives are better through my actions.