2016 Election Preview: 20th Assembly District

Democrat Anthony Eramo and Republican Melissa “Missy” Miller are facing off for the vacant seat of the 20th Assembly District.

The seat has been empty since April when Todd Kaminsky, who used to represent the district, was elected to the state Senate in a special election to replace Dean Skelos.

Eramo has served on the Long Beach City Council since 2013. He has been a member of the Communication Workers of America for 20 years and is currently the Chief Steward of CWA Local 1106.

Miller has spent her life working in healthcare and decades advocating for the chronically ill. She was instrumental in helping to get the Compassionate Care Act -- New York’s medical marijuana bill -- passed.

The 20th Assembly District include Long Beach, Island Park, the Five Towns and parts of East Rockaway, Oceanside, Baldwin and Valley Stream.

Anthony Eramo (Democrat, Independence, Women’s Equality, Working Families)
Age: 42
Hometown: Long Beach

Melissa “Missy” Miller (Republican, Conservative, Reform, Tax Revolt)
Age: 52
Hometown: Atlantic Beach

Patch: What do you think is the most important issue facing the 20th Assembly District, and what will you do to combat it?

Anthony Eramo: South Shore residents face one of the highest tax rates in the nation, and for many families — including my own — the cost of living here is almost untenable. When my kids grow up, I want them to be able to continue living in the community we love. I will adamantly fight against any further tax increases in Albany to make this possible. I will always fight for more school funding, ensuring we get our fair share from Albany in order to stem the rise of school tax hikes. For me, these aren’t just campaign promises. As a Long Beach City councilman, I always voted to stay within the governor’s tax cap while still successfully balancing the city budget, even after the destruction caused by Superstorm Sandy.

Melissa Miller: It is difficult for me to choose just one issue that I would say is more important than the others. Having spoken to so many of my neighbors in the 20th Assembly District over the last several months, I've learned that there are serious problems that confront our residents every day. One that I have heard more often than others is the worry about our high property taxes. Young professionals and seniors can no longer afford to live here because taxes are out of control. I am a homeowner, I also know firsthand this concern. Currently we do not get our fair share of funding from the state, so I would fight for our fair share by working to have the formula removed that dictates what percentage of state aid our area receives. I would also support legislation that would maintain the 2 percent tax cap and would fight to make the tax cap permanent.

Patch: Public corruption is still an important issue, in Albany and here in Nassau County. What will you do to help the public regain trust in their elected officials?

Eramo: We need to change the culture of Albany. We must seriously reform our campaign finance system, starting with closing the LLC loophole to limit how much influence special interests have in our elections and over our elected officials. We must also limit outside income for legislators, as the South Shore has seen how such conflicts of interest can corrupt our elected officials. I will be a full-time assemblyman, representing my constituents even when the Legislature isn’t in session. Finally, legislators who have been convicted of corruption should have their pensions stripped. I look forward to building on the work of Sen. Todd Kaminsky to end corruption in Albany and here in Nassau County.

Miller: Restoring trust in government is something I talk about often, care about very deeply and is an issue to which I will dedicate myself if elected. State and national government is broken, partially because people do not trust their elected officials. I very much want to change that. First and foremost, I will work hard to earn the trust of all the people who have honored me with their confidence by supporting me in this campaign. I believe that the best way to regain the public’s trust in their elected officials is for them to actually do what they have been elected to do -- transparently. Openly communicate with the constituents that bring an issue to you, televise committee meetings and votes. I feel we should let the public witness the process as actions are being performed. I also believe that term limits will help to end the corruption that comes with career politicians. Lastly, I feel that the legislative houses should strive to be bipartisan and fair and should allow each member to bring a bill to the floor each session.

Patch: What makes you the best person for this position?

Eramo: As a lifelong Nassau resident, parent to two students in Long Beach public schools and a local Little League coach, I will always stand for South Shore values. As Vice President of the Long Beach City Council, I’ve delivered real results for our community. I led the team that brought Long Beach back from the brink of bankruptcy and from the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. I successfully fought to balance the city’s budget, invest millions in our city infrastructure, replant thousands of trees, form uniform bulk-heading on Reynold’s Channel, rebuild every playground and start the first Residential Rebuilding Assistance Program to help residents navigate New York Rising and the rebuilding process. I am proud my accomplishments have earned me the endorsement from trusted leaders like Senator Chuck Schumer, Congresswoman Kathleen Rice, State Senator Todd Kaminsky and former State Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg. As I have shown in Long Beach, I will always fight for the residents of my district and work to bring the trust of the people back to our government in Albany.

Miller: I think what makes me the best person for this position is that I am not a politician, my perspective is that of a regular citizen, and that voice is currently lacking in our government in Albany. I was born and raised in Atlantic Beach, where I still live with my family. I’ve had experiences that could have crushed me. My daughter Melanie died when she was 7 from a genetic disease, my son Oliver had a stroke and as a result has many medical problems. Life has not been easy. But these experiences have not conquered my spirit, they have made me stronger and smarter. I am a person who faces adversity head on, a person who fights for those I care about. As a regular citizen I’ve had to navigate through the muck of government bureaucracy, I’ve had to learn to deal with our education and health care systems, the duplicity of our media and the needless complexity of the laws of our state. My own fights have provided me with the tools to effectively advocate not only for my family, but for our whole community. Across the breadth and scope of the district, families face the everyday struggles of earning a living and raising a family. I want to help them and advocate for families in every way I can. But most important, I will work hard to earn their trust and confidence every single day.