Candidate Profile: Jacob Schuster For Nassau Legislator

BELLMORE, NY — Nassau County residents will head to the polls on Nov. 2 for Election Day. Several county legislative seats are on the ballot, including the 19th district.

It covers the southern portions of Merrick, Bellmore, Wantagh and Seaford.

Incumbent Steve Rhoads is opposed by Jacob Schuster (D).

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

Jacob Schuster

Age (as of Election Day)

26

Position Sought

Legislator

Party Affiliation

D; WFP

Family

Son of April and Samuel Schuster

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

BBA in Finance from Hofstra (2017); J.D. from University of Tulsa, College of Law (2020)

Occupation

Law Clerk; waiting admission to the Bar

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

N/A

Campaign website

electjacobschuster.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

Our County has so much potential to set the standard for the entire country. For as long as I can remember, the end goal of our leadership has always been the preservation and maintenance of the status quo-- the end goal of any local government should be progress. We need to catch Nassau County up to the modern age.

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

Affordability. I intend on putting together a committee tasked solely with re-imagining our budget, how our funds can be better allocated, and how we can guarantee that a child born in Bellmore will be able to afford to live in Bellmore 20 years later.

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

I don't believe stagnancy to be acceptable. We need to make forward progress and no longer accept the way things are just because it's how they've been.

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

Absolutely nothing ever changes unless it's an election year-- we are supposed to be public servants.

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

Nassau County's leadership has done an excellent job in responding to the pandemic. It has hit our community extremely hard just as it has the rest of the world, and there is still much work to be done-- but we have one of the highest rates of vaccination in New York and the Country; this is an accomplishment to be proud of.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Affordability; the impacts of climate change on our community; the education and development of the younger generation, and the inclusion of the youth in local government affairs; addressing concerns with the police; social justice.

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

I have previously served my community as an EMT; I have the education, energy and drive to do what needs to be done.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

You can choose to be anything you'd like in this world, but always choose to be kind, especially when its hard to do so.

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

We finally have a real opportunity to make lasting change not just in our district, but across the entire County, Island, and State. All we need is to get out and vote and we will make history.