Candidate Profile: Andrew Raia For Huntington Town Clerk

TOWN OF HUNTINGTON, NY — Voters in the Town of Huntington will head to the polls Nov. 5 to cast their ballots for Town clerk, where they will choose from Republican Andrew Raia and Democrat Simon Saks. There is no incumbent this year, as Town Clerk Jo-Ann Raia is retiring after 38 years.

Patch reached out to all candidates to hear where they stand on important issues affecting the community.

Here are the responses for those who participated. The answers have been lightly edited for clarity.

Andrew Raia

• Age (as of Sept. 1, 2019): 51
• Town of Residence: Huntington
• Position Sought: Huntington Town Clerk
• Party Affiliation: Republican, Working Families, Conservative, Libertarian, Independence.
• Family: Jo-Ann Raia (mother); Diane Raia (sister).
• Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?: My mother, Jo-Ann Raia, has been Huntington Town Clerk for the past 38 years, while my sister, Diane, currently works in the Suffolk County court system.
• Education: SUNY New Paltz
• Occupation: New York State Assemblyman, 2003-Present
• Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: New York State Assemblyman, District 12
• Campaign Website: N/A

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

"Countering the high cost of living that our residents endure. While the office of Town Clerk is not a policy-making position, my record as a State assemblyman for the past 17 years clearly demonstrates my strong commitment to helping make Huntington a more affordable place to live. Such measures include implementing the 2 percent property tax cap, fighting to ensure Long Island receives its fair share of education funding, and investing in local infrastructure projects throughout the Town of Huntington. As our next Town clerk and as a private citizen, I will continue to lobby my former colleagues in the State Legislature to emphasize the importance of these reforms, as well as lobby the Town board for the necessary funding to implement a new computer operating system that will enable the Town clerk’s office to accept credit cards online for most of the services provided by the Town clerk’s office."

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

"In addition to my 30 years of state and local legislative experience crafting laws that directly affect the Town clerk’s responsibilities, I will utilize the knowledge I have gained working alongside our current Town clerk, Jo-Ann Raia, during her 38 years of dedicated public service to expand upon the many innovative and award-winning policies she has established."

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

"As an Assemblyman for the past 17 years, I have developed a reputation for reaching across party lines to find common sense solutions to the many issues we face. I am proud of the fact that my campaign has been endorsed by the Republican, Working Families, Conservative, Libertarian and Independence political Parties representing the entire political spectrum.

As this position is purely administrative, I believe this demonstrates my ability to serve all of the Town’s residents fairly and equally. Additionally, I have been endorsed by the Long Island Federation of Labor and its 160+ affiliates, the Coalition of Suffolk Law Enforcement, and numerous business and professional organizations."

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

"As a State assemblyman, I have worked directly with the Department of State, NYS Town Clerks Association, and the NYS Funeral Directors Association to help draft laws directly impacting many aspects of the Town Clerk’s office, giving me firsthand knowledge on the workings of this position, as 95 percent of the Town Clerk’s responsibilities are mandated by state and local law. As mentioned above, I will also build upon the award-winning policies enacted by our current Town clerk to increase the efficiency of services offered to the public while providing high levels of government transparency."

The best advice ever shared with me was...

"During my many years in public service, I have received great advice from many sources both within government and from the public. If elected Town clerk, I look forward to utilizing that large reservoir of advice during my term of service to benefit the residents of the Town of Huntington."

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

"It has been an honor to serve as one of your voices in Albany for the past 17 years, and if elected, I will continue to work as hard as I can to serve you and keep Huntington a great place to live, work, and raise a family while providing the services Huntington’s residents deserve."