NY Primary Election 2020: Nancy Goroff Seeks Zeldin's Seat

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Voters on Long Island will head to the polls Tuesday to cast their ballots for state and federal offices in New York's Democratic primary election. That includes the 1st Congressional District, where Republican U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin will defend his seat against challengers and Democrats Nancy Goroff, Bridget Fleming, Perry Gershon and Gregory-John Fischer.

The election is slated for Tuesday, June 23. Under Gov. Andrew Cuomo's order, all registered voters in the state must receive a mail-in ballot application to apply for a postage-paid absentee ballot amid the coronavirus. All ballots postmarked by June 23 will be counted.

The 1st Congressional District includes most of central and eastern Suffolk County, including the East End, Brookhaven Town, and most of Smithtown. View the district map here.

Patch has reached out to all the candidates in the primary election. Here are their responses:

Nancy Goroff

Age as of Election Day (Nov. 3)

52

Town of residence

Stony Brook

Position Sought

U.S. Congress

Party Affiliation

Democratic

Family

Husband Chris, and two daughters.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Education

BS - Harvard University; PhD - UCLA - Chemistry.

Occupation

Scientist, Professor of Chemistry at Stony Brook University for 23 years, former chair of the chemistry department

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None.

Campaign website

www.goroffforcongress.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

It is time for scientists to have a seat at the table, not just serve as advisors. With the current attempts to distort facts and reality, it's never been more crucial to have a scientist in Congress, someone who can read the evidence and listen to the facts in order to form the best policy. From healthcare to climate change to financial security and affordability, the facts and details matter, and Nancy is uniquely qualified to analyze them and make the right choice.

The single most pressing issue facing our nation/state/community is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Our way of life on Long Island is threatened by extreme weather, coastal erosion, and sea level rise, all due to climate change. By electing Nancy, we have the chance to send a scientist to Congress to drive evidence-based policy solutions to the climate crisis. We need to set ambitious targets to make the United States net carbon neutral by 2035. To reach those targets, we must aggressively deploy existing technologies in renewable energy, clean vehicles, and ultra efficient buildings nationwide. We need to invest in research on tomorrow's energy solutions, including energy production and storage (batteries). That research is going on right now at Stony Brook and universities around the country — and we need the federal government's full support in doing so. As a scientist and a member of the National Advisory Board of the Union of Concerned Scientists, Nancy is uniquely qualified to be a climate action leader in Congress.

New York’s 1st District also faces threats to clean water, both in our bays and in our taps. We need to protect our water supply. The federal government must take action to protect against contaminants such as PFAS and dioxane that threaten our groundwater and should support efforts to increase the use of modern septic and water treatment technology.

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

Nancy has spent her life as a public servant, problem solver and advocate for her students. If elected, she will be the first female PhD scientist ever to serve in Congress, which means she will bring unique skills and expertise to Congress. Nancy will serve as a resource for all members of Congress, Republican and Democratic, to make sure that they have access to the best scientific information available, and that they can get all their questions answered, and she will hold their feet to the fire to make sure we take meaningful action on climate change, on healthcare, and on getting out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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

Lee Zeldin has failed on so many issues for Long Island. He stands on the wrong side of the fight against climate change and coastal erosion. He voted against restoring the SALT tax deduction, which would directly help the people of this district. He has pandered to the president at every opportunity while not holding town halls or listening to constituents. Lee Zeldin could not be more out of step with the community.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Nancy Goroff is a scientist and proven leader trained to use facts to solve complex problems. Goroff will use science and facts to guide us out of this pandemic and will hold Donald Trump and Lee Zeldin accountable for ignoring the guidance of health experts. Goroff will work to make our health care system stronger, more equitable, and more resilient for this and future pandemics.
To address systemic inequities, we need to strengthen our infrastructure and create foundations for opportunity and success for all Americans. We need to invest in public education, public housing, and public health resources, in addition to the reforms that are needed to make our policing more just. We also need to raise awareness of the role of systemic racism and implicit bias in our society. Nancy has a long history of prioritizing these issues, including serving on Stony Brook’s steering committee for the implementation of the Campus Diversity Plan. Throughout her career, she has brought these values to her work at the University, and she’ll continue to do so in Congress.

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

It’s a fact that climate change is wreaking havoc on Long Island. That’s why Nancy’s research lab at Stony Brook has worked to create new organic semiconductors, and has studied how to use them to make solar energy more affordable and attainable. It's also why the chemistry department, while she was chair, brought in more than $22 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to fund two Energy Frontier Research Centers to develop new batteries for energy storage. Increasing renewable energy production and storage is vital to combating climate change.
Nancy has a proven track record of accomplishments as a leader at Stony Brook. She led the successful fight at Stony Brook to get healthcare coverage for a group of researchers who had fallen through the cracks. To help create good-paying jobs in Suffolk for the 21st century, she collaborated with partners to develop programs at Stony Brook in entrepreneurship, including the innovative maker space called iCreate, which provides students with the tools to build, innovate, and redefine technological boundaries. As chair of chemistry, she led a 300-person department with a multimillion dollar budget, advocating for her students, faculty, and staff to get the resources they needed to be successful.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Being a good leader means being a good listener. Ask lots of questions and try to learn something from each person you meet.