Candidate Profile: Nick LaLota Seeks NY's 1st Congressional District

LONG ISLAND, NY — Residents will be heading to the polls Tuesday for the U.S. 1st Congressional District's Republican primary on Aug. 23.

Three candidates are facing off for the GOP primary in the district, including Nicholas LaLota; chief of staff to the Suffolk County Legislature, former Amityville trustee, and former Republican Suffolk County Board of Elections commissioner; Anthony Figliola, former deputy supervisor of Brookhaven Town; and Michelle Bond, leader of the Association for Digital Asset Markets.

LaLota received the endorsement of the Suffolk County GOP.

The Democratic primary was canceled and incumbent Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming is now running unopposed for the congressional seat.

The GOP candidates are vying for the seat vacated by Rep. Lee Zeldin, (R-Shirley), who has led the district since 2015 after defeating former Southampton Town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst.

Zeldin recently won a GOP primary and will be vying to unseat incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul in the November election.

In advance of the election, Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaign — and the results will be published as candidate profiles in the days leading up to the vote.

Following is Patch's full Q & A with Nick LaLota.

Nick LaLota

Campaign website

https://www.nicklalota.com/

City or town of residence

Amityville

Office sought

New York's 1st Congressional District

Party affiliation

Republican/Conservative

Education

United States Naval Academy graduate. Nick is a cum laude graduate from Hofstra University’s Zarb School of Business with a Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA). In addition, Nick holds a Juris Doctor from Hofstra University’s Maurice A. Dean School of Law.

Occupation

Chief of staff to the Republican Suffolk County Legislature. Former Republican commissioner at the Suffolk County Board of Elections.

Family

A husband and father to three daughters, Nick and his wife Kaylie, his high school sweetheart, are raising their children in Amityville. Kaylie is the daughter of Tom and Pam Howard and granddaughter of the late Lou and Margaret Howard. Many Long Islanders remember Lou for being a Hall of Fame football coach and former village mayor, county legislator and state assemblyman. Kaylie is a physical education teacher at Northport High School and a graduate of Hofstra University.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Age

44

Previous public office, appointive or elective

Former Amityville Village trustee. Former Republican Commissioner at the Suffolk County Board of Elections. Chief of Staff to the Suffolk County Legislature.

Why are you seeking this office?

My family and I have dedicated our lives to serving our country and community. After graduating from Saint Anthony's High School, I attended and graduated from the Naval Academy and served on three overseas deployments. Now, I want to continue my service by fighting for fellow Suffolk County residents in Washington.

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

I am the only candidate in this race that has never been a Democrat. I am the only candidate in this race that has never been a lobbyist. I am the only candidate in this race who has served our country in the military. I am the only candidate in this race with a proven track record of cutting taxes and investigating fraud in our elections.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

Not challenging an incumbent

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Election integrity, healthcare reform, inflation and our economy, reducing taxes, support for our law enforcement, unconstitutional mandates, our national debt, protecting life, protecting our Second Amendment rights, improving our local infrastructure, standing up for China, standing with Israel, and a smarter and stronger American foreign policy.

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

My service in our military, my service to our Suffolk County community as Elections Commissioner and Chief of Staff to the Legislature, and my firsthand experience with the issues Long Island families face as I raise my young family in Suffolk County.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

To do the right thing, even when no one is looking.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

My grandfather was a cop, my father was a cop and I served in the United States Navy. My wife is a teacher and my family has always dedicated ourselves to service.

Suffolk County communities in the 1st district include the East End — East Hampton Town, Southampton Town, Westhampton, Hampton Bays, the North Fork, Shelter Island and Riverhead — and parts of Brookhaven Town including Manorville, Ridge, Rocky Point, Port Jefferson, Coram, Brookhaven, Bellport, Mastic-Shirley, Smithtown, Lake Ronkonkoma and Patchogue.