NYC General Election 2020: Zumbluskas Challenges For State Senate

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Voters in New York's 28th State Senate district, which includes much of the Upper East Side and parts of Midtown, Murray Hill and Gramercy, will see two names on their ballots for senator when they vote in the Nov. 3 General Election.

One of those names will be Michael Zumbluskas, who is running on the Republican and Independence Party lines against incumbent Democrat Liz Krueger.

Zumbluskas has previously challenged Krueger in 2016 and 2014, and faced then-Assemblymember Micah Kellner in 2014, receiving about 25 percent of the vote each time.

Patch reached out to all candidates in the election to create these profiles. Zumbluskas's responses are below, while Krueger's can be read here.

All New York voters were eligible to request a mail-in ballot due to the coronavirus pandemic. For those who want to head to the polls, click here to find your poll site. Early voting is available from Oct. 24 to Nov. 1.

Michael Zumbluskas

Age as of Election Day (Nov. 3)

60

NYC neighborhood of residence

Upper Eastside Yorkville

Position Sought

State Senate

Party Affiliation

Independence Party also running on Republican party

Family

not married

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

I work for NYC Dept. of Transportation

Education

BA University of Scranton

Occupation

resource management analyst 15 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

New York County Chairman of the Independence Party, on the Independence Party State Executive Committee and worked tirelessly as its chief organizer and chairman of the candidate screening committee for all of New York City 2008 to 2016. Reform Party National Committee, serving as chairman of the party’s 2008 national convention where the RPUSA nominated Sen. John McCain as their presidential candidate. The national committee elected Mike chairman of the Reform Party’s legal committee, which he headed from 2008 to 2010. He remains active on the national level.

Campaign website

www.electmikez.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

Our city and state are falling apart and current politicians will not take any blame for bad policy. We need leaders that review and admit your policies are not working and in some case exacerbating the problems.

Our quality life and safety was on the decline before COVID-19 hit us. Cost of living soaring, out-of-control homelessness, mom and pops priced out of the stores just to name a few.

As a veteran I know problems require cooperation. Ideologues like my opponent gave us rising crime, streets flooded with homeless, unaffordable housing, struggling mom-and-pops, and NYCHA in shambles. Bail reform released dangerous people.

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

Jobs, New York City has over 20% unemployment rate which is going to get higher as more stores and restaurants close. We need to incentivize companies to move into NYS and NYC. But more importantly we must encourage our citizens to create new startups. As State Senator I will reduce regulatory requirements that can cost new businesses up to a $100,000. I will help create a technical support group that will consist of government, private university experts. Get tax incentives for every employee hired. Work with landlords and new businesses so rents are mutually advantageous to both.

What are your thoughts on the state and national response to the coronavirus pandemic? Do you favor such measures as limiting operation of non-essential businesses or restricting indoor/outdoor dining? And do you favor a nationwide mask mandate?

At the beginning of this pandemic the state and federal government are making decisions with little concrete information. Understandably some mistakes were made. However governor, Cuomo’s mandate to send infected seniors back to nursing homes was atrocious. The Como administration did not fully reason out this decision. Also the state mishandling the logistics in spreading sicken critical patients to hospitals that were not overwhelmed. The Javits Center in the two hospitals set up in Central Park were barely used. Instead they allowed hospital’s in Queen’s to overflow with critical patients.

We were only supposed to be shut down until we slowed hospitalizations. That happened long ago and yet were still partially shut down. This has caused an economic depression, we need to open up, but open up safely. So I would give New York’s response a D+.

The federal government response was a little better but they also made mistakes. Putting the travel restrictions was a lifesaver however the CDC early testing was a disaster.

One of the problems that almost nobody talks about is the lack of PPE items. And that must be blamed on Democrats and Republican presidents for the last 30 to 40 years. They allowed our drug and PPE manufacturers to be shipped overseas and mostly to China. Plus the administrators at hospitals employees a just in time inventory system so they only have 2 to 3 weeks of PPE and drug supplies on hand. Which exacerbated this disaster because of the supply chain breakdown.

A nationwide mask mandate is unconstitutional. It has to be implemented state-by-state because we live in a federal system.

How would you address the concerns of the Black Lives Matter movement, and what are your thoughts on the demonstrations held since the death of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake?

I understand there are problems with the black community in our police. The trust has eroded to such a point that we must bring the two sides together. Rebuild the trust in the mutual respect it will take time and will take effort from both communities.

I support the concept of Black Lives Matter as I support All Lives Matter including Blue Lives! But I cannot support the BLM organization because their mission statements stated before they took it down that they wanted to get rid of traditional two parent home. Also too many of their protest have turned violent and destructive. Around 2000 police officers have been hurt in some even killed since George Boyd death. I still see the pain in that elderly black woman’s face as she was interviewed in Minneapolis after the rioting that burned down her neighborhood. She kept on saying what am I going to do my pharmacy my supermarket all my stores have been burnt the buses are running how my going to eat how am I my going to get my medicine. BLM did not care. Plus when two of their leader’s one in Chicago and one in New York came out and said looting was fine because it was just a part of reparations is also something this country cannot support. Now I’m not condemning everybody that marched to protest George Boyd’s death but the leadership of this organization needs to be condemned. Their demand on defunding the police has actually only hurt black communities not help them.

On George Floyd’s death it was a tragedy that should not have happened. Kneeling on somebody’s nick for over eight minutes was a miss use of force. However I’m afraid officer Chauvin was overcharged by the DA. As more information comes out I don’t think they will get a jury to convict of first-degree murder. Which will lead to more destruction and chaos. This incident was horrific to watch but we can’t let our emotions dictate and now come that cannot be upheld in a court of law.

On the Jacob Blake case before there is too much contradictory information out there that it’s hard to get a clear picture. Seven shots to me seems excessive however we know he had a warrant out on them he was resisting arrest and one of the kids in the car is not his. So I’d have to read and watch all the evidence before I can make a decisive decision.

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

I think the critical difference between me and my opponent is my life experiences. I grew up as a G.I. brat traveling the world. I’ve lived in rural areas and metropolitan areas. I started elementary school in Okinawa Japan and graduated from high school in Aviano Italy. The military is a mixed community of not only race but religion and culture. They were to some of the top rated K-12 in the country and was bused into the some of the worst. I put myself through college working 35 to 45 hours a week while taking 18 credit hours a semester.

I went into the Army to pay off my student loans and to earn funds to go back to school. I have worked in the private sector, nonprofit sector and currently work for the New York City Department of Transportation.

I been in politics since 1992 and have literally helped hundreds of candidates all over the city and this and other states. I’ve worked in all five boroughs in both poor, middle and rich neighborhoods. I’ve worked on Democratic, Republican and independent campaigns. I approach policy from a practical angle in do not let ideology dictate good policy. I don’t care if ideas come from the left the rights or out of one’s imagination, if it works or looks like its works that’s what I’m going to push. Just go to my website www.electmikez.com and I think you’ll like what you see.

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

My opponent has been in office for almost 20 years, yet we still have housing problems, our schools continue to deteriorate, our economy is at depression levels, and crime is on the rise. I could go on and on about the troubles New York City and New York State but we know what they are. The other problem with my opponent as she will not admit she’s made mistakes such as the Bell Reform Law which is exacerbating the cities quality-of-life decline. I will promise you that if I made a mistake I will own up to it.

It’s time to change leadership because we need new ideas to not only solve the long-term problems we have but also the current problems that been created by the COVID-19 lockdown.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

Being a unique thinker he’s come up with the solutions to issues such as NYCHA, homelessness, criminal justice reform, helping small businesses, housing and other issues. One of the unique ideas he has come up with for NYCHA funding is to get construction contractors and individual tradespeople that owe back taxes to work off those back taxes by doing some of the repair work at NYCHA. Go to www.electmikez.com to see the full details of these plans.

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

He was named to NY State board of United We Stand America in 1993. At the founding state convention Mike was elected chairman of the Bylaws and Rules committee. He was able to bring people from all over the state, mostly unknown to each other, together to write and ratify the rules and bylaws in just two days.

Mike was the National Reform Party’s legal committee chairman from 2008 to 2010. Mike was also chairman of the party's 2008 national convention at which John McCain was nominated as Reform's presidential candidate.

Even though Mike is not a lawyer he has helped a number of people with election law cases and with the court’s permission he actually representing some them in court. In one case he represent a 65-year-old Puerto Rico gentleman who only had a six grade education after his lawyer dropped him in a federal labor law case. He also help a number of people in housing court.

In his city job Mike is always takes his fiduciary responsibility seriously thus saving the city millions upon millions of dollars. In the city’s contract milling program Mike was able to save over $3 million a year by bringing the management of those contracts in-house.

From these few things you can see Mike understands the law, is fiscally responsible and knows how to work with people of different backgrounds and ideas and get them to agree on the final outcome. There are more accomplishments he could name at this gives you a general idea of what he’s done throughout his life most of it out of the goodness of his heart.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

When I was about 11 years old, I wanted to go on this afterschool trip but I needed five dollars. (This is back in 1971) so when I went test my dad for the five dollars, he looked at me and said do you have the five dollars and a course I said no. He then said well there's your answer!

My dad wasn't trying to be cruel but being a career Air Force Enlisted men in the 70s, military pay was not enough to feed a family of four. We qualify for food stamps but my father said as long as he could work we would not take the government assistance. An he almost always had a 2nd job.

Ever since I have earned my own money and try to live within my means.

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

He was named to NY State board of United We Stand America in 1993. At the founding state convention Mike was elected chairman of the Bylaws and Rules committee. He was able to bring people from all over the state, mostly unknown to each other, together to write and ratify the rules and bylaws in just two days.

Mike was the National Reform Party’s legal committee chairman from 2008 to 2010. Mike was also chairman of the party's 2008 national convention at which John McCain was nominated as Reform's presidential candidate.

Even though Mike is not a lawyer he has helped a number of people with election law cases and with the court’s permission he actually representing some them in court. In one case he represent a 65-year-old Puerto Rico gentleman who only had a six grade education after his lawyer dropped him in a federal labor law case. He also help a number of people in housing court.

In his city job Mike is always took his fiduciary responsibility seriously thus saving the city millions upon millions of dollars. In the city’s contract milling program Mike was able to save over $3 million a year by bringing the management of those contracts in-house.

From these few things you can see Mike understands the law, is fiscally responsible and knows how to work with people of different backgrounds and ideas and get them to agree on the final outcome. There are more accomplishments he could name at this gives you a general idea of what he’s done throughout his life most of it out of the goodness of his heart.

Some people might be worried that if elected Mike would have a steep learning curve in struggle to get his office up and running. However this is far from the case because he has a number of friends who work for elected state senators and state assembly people even two Chief of Staff. Also the vice chairman of the Independence party has worked in the halls of the state capital for over 30 years. With Mike’s contacts and experience be well ahead of most newly elected representatives.