Ra, Nicolosi battle for Alfano’s Assembly seat

With longtime Assemblyman Thomas Alfano (R-North Valley Stream) deciding not to run for re-election, two newcomers are looking to represent New York’s 21st Assembly District.

Getting the nod for the Republicans is Town of Hempstead deputy attorney Ed Ra, while Patrick Nicolosi, who defeated party nominee Mimi Pierre-Johnson in a primary, is running on the Democratic ticket.

Ra, a lifelong Franklin Square resident, said the main issue in the district is taxes. He said he supports video lottery terminals at Belmont Park to ease the local property tax burden, and that the MTA payroll tax hurts local businesses. Ra also would like to restore the STAR rebate program, which he said is especially beneficial for seniors, who were getting checks of about $600 right before the winter heating season.

Nicolosi, president of the Elmont Civic Association, has long been a supporter of development at Belmont Park. He said he would like to see businesses and hotels constructed on its 430 underutilized acres. Nassau County also needs more affordable housing, he noted, which can be accomplished through transit-oriented development. “We have to keep young people on Long Island,” Nicolosi said.

Both candidates say Medicaid waste and fraud has led to a huge chunk of the state’s budget deficit. Cracking down on this abuse could save the state billions, they said. Additionally, Ra said, the state should take a proactive approach by examining the Medicaid system to prevent waste and fraud from happening in the first place.

Nicolosi said he has experience in finding savings, as demonstrated in his role on the Elmont Public Library Board of Trustees. When he was elected to the board, Nicolosi said, he successfully fought to keep taxes from increasing. Just as with the library, Nicolosi said, he is willing to look at the state budget line by line.

To start fixing the dysfunction in Albany, Ra said, new voices are needed, and he believes he can be one of them. “I saw it as not only an opportunity for myself,” he said of running for the Assembly seat, “but an opportunity to bring a fresh perspective to Albany, which I feel is sorely needed.”

Ra said he is willing to listen to people on both sides of the aisle in Albany. He also said elected officials need to do less talking and more listening to voters.

Nicolosi said he has a history of working well with people in both parties, noting his relationship with Republican Alfano. “People view me as that independent voice,” he said.

The 28-year-old Ra said his would be a good voice in Albany because he understands the many issues that affect his generation, such as the need for more jobs. The high cost of living, coupled with the lack of good-paying jobs, he said, has caused people his age to leave communities where families have stayed for generations. “We have some very well-educated, intelligent people,” he said, “and we have to give them the opportunity here at home.”

Nicolosi said he would fight for the state to get its fair share of education funding, and also is calling for a full audit of the MTA. The state Legislature, he added, has to encourage business growth and curtail the spending of money that New York doesn’t have. “New York has to be the Empire State once again,” he said.

Both candidates support nonpartisan redistricting and term limits for state lawmakers.

The 21st Assembly District includes Elmont, Franklin Square, West Hempstead, Malverne, North Valley Stream and others.