By Mike Schnitzel
Torres, an engineer from Baldwin Harbor, calls himself a problem-solver rather than a professional politician, and he believes there are big problems that need to be tackled. Calling school tax reform and renewable energy his core issues, Torres said that the 14th District needs someone who will address them.
"I want to get problems addressed like dependence on foreign oil and lowering property taxes, rather than being the guy who says I get lot of money for parks," Torres said. "That's great. I like parks, too, but there are more important things."
Property tax reform also rates high on Torres's list of priorities. He said that a new formula for property taxes needs to be phased in over a period of a few years to ease some of what he called the "disproportionate" burden on the middle class. "The high taxes are driving people out of Long Island," Torres said.
He explained that he decided to challenge Barra again because he believes he can make a difference. "I have more resources this time," Torres said. "If I can get out there and plead my case, we'll see what the voters decide is most important."
For his part, Barra places a high value on education, and views himself as one of the most accessible members of the Assembly. "When I'm in my own office and the phone rings, I pick it up," Barra said. "People are surprised to find that it's me on the other line when they call. They figure that they'll get a secretary or something."
While he sends his two daughters to Catholic schools, Barra said he is a big believer in the public school system. "My wife is the one who wanted our girls to go to Catholic school," he said. "You've got to pick your battles."
Barra said that he frequently shows up at public schools to speak to students, to let them know that he cares about them and to see what they're thinking. "I learn a lot from going to schools," he said. "Kids, and senior citizens, ask the toughest questions."
Barra believes that the federal government is underfunding the No Child Left Behind Act, which many school officials have called an unfunded mandate. He said that if the government is going to require schools to meet certain standards, forcing them to spend more money, the government should provide financial assistance rather than putting the burden on local homeowners.
"Our two U.S. senators have fallen short on getting our state funding for No Child Left Behind," Barra said. "If the government wants a program, it should pay for it."
Education and property tax relief are Barra's top two priorities, and he said he believes they go hand-in-hand. "It's a quality-of-life issue," he said.
He voiced his pride that the state has managed to hand in on-time budgets for the past two years, breaking a 25-year streak of political heel-dragging. "It hurts school districts and not-for-profits [if the budget is late]," Barra said. "By banding together with other assemblymen who were tired of late budgets, we forced the leadership to get to work."
Before becoming an assemblyman, Barra was a Lynbrook village trustee, a Hempstead town councilman, and chief of staff for state Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre).
Comments about this story? MSchnitzel@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 265.
