BY SAM DESMOND, CONNOR PATTON,
GARY HABER

Second Congressional District

Incumbent Andrew Garbarino (R)

Rep. Andrew Garbarino was sworn into office on Jan. 3, 2021 for New York’s 2nd Congressional District. He has served on the House Financial Services Committee, Ethics Committee, and Homeland Security Committee, where he is the chair of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation.

“During my time in Congress, I have delivered results for our district,” said Garbarino.

Since taking office, Garbarino and his staff have resolved 7,000 cases on behalf of Long Islanders and recovered over $21 million from the federal government to return to constituents.

Garbarino has secured billions of dollars to New York State to rebuild infrastructure and “repair crumbling roads” as well as $36.361 million for 15 community projects in NY-2.

Challenger, Rob Lubin (D)

Democrat Rob Lubin doesn’t check the usual boxes for a congressional candidate running in New York’s Second District. He’s in his 20s, never held political office, and owns a small business. Lubin hopes with these characteristics, he can bring a fresh perspective to Congress if he wins in next month’s election.

The 29-year-old Democratic nominee for Congress lives in Lindenhurst, where he manages an online fashion marketplace called IN-HOUSE. Lubin founded the business on the heels of other companies closing their doors when the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020. Despite failing to qualify for federal assistance loans because his company was too new, Lubin’s business survived.

“I was starting a business, pursuing the American dream, and struggling with it because I was getting taxed more than I was making in revenue at my company, and I think that was ridiculous,” Lubin said. “I suffered through COVID, and I felt right then and there that it was the government’s job to help our small businesses thrive, because if you’re going to push the American dream, you have to be there for Americans when they start to dream.”

New York State Senate, 8th District

Alexis Weik (R), Incumbent

Born and raised on Long Island, Sen. Alexis Weik is currently raising her family on the South Shore. She was elected to the 3rd Senate District in 2020, the 8th District, in 2022, after the district was redrawn, and is currently running for reelection. Weik earned her degree from Dowling College and served three terms as Islip’s receiver of taxes. As a member of a Suffolk County and NYPD police family, Weik is passionate about standing up for law enforcement. She noted that her experience working in various levels of government “allows me to help as many residents as possible.”

A lifelong resident of Suffolk County, Weik was raised in Ronkonkoma and Oakdale, graduated from Connetquot High School, and earned degrees from Dowling College and Farmingdale State College.

She served as receiver of taxes for the Town of Islip from 2011-2020. As receiver, she made customer service her top priority, “embracing a hands-on approach to assist taxpayers, streamline operations and improve the office’s efficiency.”

Francis Dolan (D) Challenger

Dolan is not actively campaigning.

New York State Senate, District 4

Incumbent, Monica Martinez (D)

Monica Martinez is running for reelection in Senate District 4, which includes parts of the Town of Islip. Martinez, who is running on the Democratic and Working Families Party lines, is facing challenger Teresa Bryant, who is running on the Republican and Conservative lines.

A former social studies teacher and assistant middle school principal in the Brentwood School District, Martinez served in the Suffolk County Legislature for five years before being elected to the state Senate in 2018.

Education, public safety, protecting the environment and making Long Island more affordable are among Martinez’s priorities.

As a Suffolk County legislator, she chaired the legislature’s Public Safety Commission and sponsored legislation creating the Suffolk County Childcare Commission.

As a state senator, she and assemblyman Fred Thiele sponsored the Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act. Suffolk County voters will vote on Nov. 5, whether to approve a one-eighth of one percent increase in the county sales tax to fund sewer expansion and replace aging septic systems that leak nitrates into Long Island’s aquifer and waterways.

Martinez is a graduate of Brentwood High School and holds a B.A. in history from Binghamton University, a master’s degree in secondary education from New York University, and an administrative degree from Stony Brook University.

For more information visit: monicaforny.com

Challenger, Dr. Teresa Bryant (R)

Dr. Teresa Bryant is the Republican and Conservative party candidate for state Senate in District 4, which includes parts of the town of Islip.

Bryant is a licensed registered nurse and holds a doctoral degree in psychology. She is running against incumbent Monica Martinez, who is the candidate of the Democratic and Working Families parties.

Bryant could not be reached for comment, but her campaign website describes her as “a distinguished businesswoman whose professional and civic contributions have left an indelible mark on our community.”

Bryant, who worked for the Suffolk County Department of Social Services as a medical services specialist, has long been active in the community with organizations including the Rotary Club of Islip, Central Islip Islandia Rotary Club, Islip NAACP and Central Islip Civic Council.

Bryant has also been active with the Central Islip School District, including serving on the board of the Safe and Drug-Free School Committee and boards on special education and truancy.

For more information visit: bryantforsenate.com.

Assembly, 7th District

Incumbent, Jarett Gandolfo (R)

Serving in his role as assemblyman of the 7th District since he was elected in 2020, Jarett Gandolfo said the experience “has been an honor” to represent his constituency.

As assemblyman, Gandolfo co-sponsored the Suffolk County Water Quality Improvement Act, which will help fund critical sewer and wastewater infrastructure expansion to protect our drinking water and the Great South Bay.

Additionally, Gandolfo has supported open space preservation, wetland protection, and the Environmental Protection Fund.

“I’ve fought for and secured additional funding for the CHIPS program, which helps local municipalities repair roads and bridges. I was a leader in the fight to defeat extreme New York State zoning proposals to protect our communities from overdevelopment,” said Gandolfo.

Among the top issues facing his constituency in The Suffolk County News’s coverage area, Gandolfo cited:

• Lowering the cost of living
• Continuing to improve infrastructure
• Addressing the Migrant Crisis

Challenger, Garrett Petersen (D)

“My entire professional career has been about service,” said Garrett Petersen, the challenger for the Assembly District 7 position.

Currently, Petersen serves as a clinician at an OPWDD service agency, providing services for people with autism and other developmental disabilities.

“I have always put people first, and moving my work to the Assembly, in the broadest sense, is an evolution of what I’ve devoted my life to.  We take care of New York’s most vulnerable residents, and they need a voice in Albany who knows the struggles to get the services and care they deserve,” said Petersen.

Petersen and his wife, Irina, rented in Sayville and eventually bought their home in East Islip approximately 10 years ago.

“I’m a product of Long Island schools from first grade, growing up in Central Islip before attending Stony Brook for my BA and Dowling for my Master’s in Education.  I have one child in elementary school and one on the way, and I want to fight to ensure Long Island’s students get the education funding they deserve and then have the ability to actually stay here and raise our next generation,” said Petersen.

Among the top issues facing his constituency in The Suffolk County News’s coverage area, Petersen cited:

• Proper funding for state agencies
• Water quality
• Housing affordability