Dermond Thomas to run for Assembly seat

With a wide open race in the 14th Assembly District, Dermond Thomas is hoping that voters will choose to send him to Albany.

After a decade in office, Assemblyman Bob Barra (R-Lynbrook) is stepping down to spend more time with his family. The Republicans gave the nod to Lynbrook Mayor Brian Curran to be Barra’s successor. But Thomas, a Democrat from Valley Stream, has different ideas.

Thomas said he would be a voice for working families in Albany. He said there are many actions that the state government can take to strengthen families and communities. Just giving people information, he said, is empowering.

While working for the Legal Aid Society, Thomas noted that he led workshops for people about starting their own businesses. The government can do the same thing, he said, by utilizing resources already available. “We have volunteers who like to do a lot of things,” he said, “and I don’t think we take advantage of having people who want to help.”

Thomas said that whether it is helping people to start their own business or supporting existing businesses, the state government should work to encourage job creation. He said there should be more tax break incentives and less restrictive regulations, with the focus on small businesses.

The MTA payroll tax is also “outrageous,” he said. Thomas said he understands the purpose of the tax, and that public transportation does benefit everyone, even those who don’t use the system. But, he said, the burden of the tax is too much. “Taxing schools for commuter rails,” he said, “that just doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense.”

Education is another area Thomas wants to see some changes. He said the state should encourage districts to be innovative and take advantage of technology as a learning tool. He also questions the recent cuts to state aid. “Education is one of the things on the chopping block,” said the father of two young children. “I think it should be just the opposite.”