Candidate Profile: Elaine Phillips For Nassau County Comptroller

FLOWER HILL, NY — Election Day is fast approaching and Patch is giving you a look at the candidates on the Nov. 2 ballot.

For the Nassau County Comptroller's race, Republican Elaine Phillips faces Democrat Ryan Cronin. Incumbent Jack Schnirman declined a reelection bid.

Phillips discusses why she deserves to win. She answers Patch's Q&As below.

Elaine Phillips

Age (as of Election Day)

61

Position Sought

Nassau County Comptroller

Party Affiliation

Republican, Conservative, Tax Revolt

Family

Husband Andy (59)
Daughters Kate (28), Hannah (26), and Sarah (24)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Education

MBA (Finance) - Pennsylvania State University
BA (Political Science) - Pennsylvania State University

Occupation

Financial Markets at CAPTRUST (3 yrs), Goldman Sachs (17 yrs), J.P. Morgan (4 yrs), and MetLife (4 yrs)

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

New York State Senator (7th District)
Mayor of Village of Flower Hill
Trustee of Village of Flower Hill
Trustee of Village of Munsey Park

Campaign website

www.elect-elaine.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

My primary motivation is to give the people of Nassau County a watchdog with an established track record of independence, fairness, responsiveness to constituents, and problem-solving. From the mishandled re-assessments to the deterioration of service at the Department of Consumer Affairs, there is a common thread of mismanagement. As comptroller, I intend to be a force which helps to get county agencies back on track by diagnosing problems and advocating for solutions – whether they be the enhancement of existing processes or the addressing of antiquated technology.

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

The single most pressing issue facing Nassau County is the loss of confidence in our tax assessment system owing to the mishandled re-assessments. As Nassau County Comptroller, my first step toward regaining the confidence of taxpayers will be a comprehensive investigation of the re-assessment process.

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

The critical differences are:
1. More than 25 years of financial experience in the private sector at Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, and MetLife working in collaboration with sophisticated clients to solve complex financial and organizational challenges.
2. More than 10 years in the public sector as an elected official (New York State Senator, Village Mayor, and Village Trustee) serving constituents with understanding and responsiveness while being a careful steward of taxpayer funds and a problem solver.

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

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Prevention of corruption, fraud, and waste through aggressive audits of County agencies, authorities, departments and entities with which the County has financial obligations, such as NUMC, contract agencies and the LIRR/MTA. Aggressive auditing can lead to the recovery of county funds and the institution of best practices and safeguards to protect against future financial losses.
A complete and exhaustive review of the Comptroller’s procedures with respect to the payment of claims, as well as the claims payment system, is sorely needed. The Nassau County Comptroller was defrauded of over $700,000, and it is inexcusable that the Office charged with performing audits to protect against fraud was the victim of fraud.

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

As New York State Senator presenting northwest Nassau County, one of my most important accomplishments was the negotiation of MOU's between the MTA and the villages directly impacted by the LIRR Third Track Project. The project created controversy not because both sides were wrong but because both sides were right. Yes, the Third Track adds important infrastructure and creates jobs. Yes, the Third Track is disruptive to surrounding communities both during the construction phase and into the future. I advocated for the mitigation of the disruptions to local communities with a focus on the details of day-to-day quality of life. I also advocated for the mitigations to be financially responsible and sustainable to ensure the success of the project.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Always be sure that it is your constituents you're listening to and not just the sound of your own voice. Always be humble.

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

Due to my extensive history of responding to the needs of community-based organizations, I have been endorsed by EVERY labor and environmental organization that is endorsing this election, including CSEA, Laborers (LIUNA-NY), Building & Construction Trades of Nassau and Suffolk Counties (AFL-CIO), New York League of Conservation Voters, Nassau PBA, Nassau Detectives Association, Nassau Superior Officers, Nassau Correction Officers, and Nassau Fire Marshals.