Suffolk County Elections 2021: Nicholas Caracappa For Legislature

SELDEN, NY — Election Day is one week away, and Patch is giving you a look at the candidates on the Nov. 2 ballot.

In the 4th Legislative District race, Republican incumbent Legis. Nicholas Caracappa is facing Democratic challenger Dawn Sharrock.

Caracappa discusses why he should be reelected and answers Patch's Q&As below.

Age (as of Election Day)

53

Position Sought

Suffolk County Legislator, District 4

Party Affiliation

Conservative

Family

Children-Joseph 30, William 23, Rosine 18, Julianna 16, and Gloria 13.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Trade Schools in electrical and plumbing; multiple courses in labor law and contract negotiations

Occupation

Suffolk County Legislator - one year

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Middle Country School Board - seven years, president Utility Workers Union of America Local - 393 14 years, National Executive Board Member UWUA - six years, and vice president SC3V Little League 15 years.

Campaign website

Electnickcaracappa.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

To make a positive impact on my community and continue the good work my office has been doing for the residents of the 4th LD and throughout Suffolk County.

In just 10 months serving on the Suffolk County Legislature, I have been able to get an additional $30 million allocated to repairing our state roads in Suffolk County and move the timeline of those repairs from 2024-25 to 2022-23.

I have secured funding for sewer studies for Selden, Centereach, Farmingville, Ronkonkoma, and Holbrook.

I have secured hundreds of acres of open space land. I am proud to say that I along with my caucus have stood strong on not allowing small bonding amounts $50,000 or less due to the county's very poor credit ratings which has resulted in a recognized savings of $3.5 million to the taxpayers of Suffolk County.

I have sponsored legislation that will prohibit smoking marijuana in our county parks to protect our families. I support law enforcement and keeping our communities safe, and I support body cameras for police to keep our police, our citizens, and our county protected.

I had voting removed from Stagecoach Elementary School so that voters can no longer share the same entrances, exits, hallways, and restrooms with students.

I have worked with all levels of government — town, county, state, and federal — and across the aisle effectively to better serve the residents of the 4th LD.

I have served my community for 20 years prior to being elected to the legislature and I will continue to fight for all residents within the 4th LD and throughout Suffolk County.

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

The installation of sewers is critical in both protecting our drinking water and our coastal communities and not only will this will aid in protecting the environment and air quality it will also create jobs here in Suffolk County. I have sponsored and co-sponsored legislation securing millions of dollars for sewer studies and installations within the 4th LD and throughout Suffolk County.

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

I have forged relationships on all levels of government and on both sides of the aisle that have enabled me to get things done and bring a better quality-of-life to the residents I serve. The 4th LD currently has more funding coming in than in the last 25 years.

My experience with budgets, negotiations, lobbying, and my knowledge of local, state, and federal politics and issues, clearly make me the most qualified candidate.

We can no longer tolerate the status quo and put ineffective people into office that will go along with their party's demands, wants, and needs. I am a leader that places the needs of our residents first and foremost. It's not about politics...It's about the people.

No matter if you are a Republican, Democrat, Conservative, blank or former Independent, a vote for Nick Caracappa is a vote for a better community and futures for our families.

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

I believe our local officials responded very well and with the cooperation of all residents and the commitment of all of our frontline workers and first responders we have made it through the worst of it.

It's unfortunate that our present leadership has forgotten the critical work that these heroes did and how they placed our care and our families above their own. These same heroes, who we celebrated with parades and brought them meals because they worked tirelessly around the clock, are now being put in positions where they are losing their livelihoods and careers, and now cannot provide for their own families after protecting and serving ours for so long.

What I would do differently is put those heroes back to work immediately and allow them the choice to wear the proper Personal Protective Equipment to help protect their safety and the safety of the patients. It would be the same PPE and improved PPE that is now readily available to all — that they wore at the height of the epidemic.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

• We must have fiscal responsibility within the county. Increasing our bond ratings and getting rid of the higher interest loans we currently have. By lowering our debt, we will save millions of dollars alone.
• Utilizing the American Relief Plan Act dollars, the federal money that the county was given to lower debt, fill critically needed vacancies in Suffolk to aid in providing those essential county services to those who need them and count on them.
• Improving our roadways and infrastructure.
• Improving public transportation services, including the Suffolk County Accessible Transportation bus.
• Lowering taxes for all residents of Suffolk County.
• Protecting our youth, seniors, veterans, laborers, and hardworking middle-class families.
• Supporting law enforcement, fire departments, civics, chambers of commerce, historical societies, libraries, and all community services that we count on but may take for granted at times.
• Support and help small businesses within Suffolk.
• What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

See all of the above answers.

I am the most qualified candidate for the 4th Legislative District.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

"To be able to serve the people, you must be one of the people.” - from my mother, Rose Caracappa.

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

I love my community. I love the job that I do representing my community. I consider it a privilege to have been elected to serve my community and would truly enjoy the opportunity to continue doing so for years to come.