By Hector Flores
Zahid-Ali Syed
Syed, a registered Democrat, works for the Retail Wholesale Department Store Union Local 338. For the last 15 years he has been involved politically and with civic organizations. He is commissioner of Nassau County¹s Human Rights Commission and is a co-chair of the Working Families Party¹s Queens Chapter. He is also president and co-founder of the South Asian-American Political Action Committee, an organization whose goal is to increase the political and civic awareness of the South Asian-American community. In addition, he is a member of the East Meadow Civic Association and Nassau County¹s Democratic Club.
As a labor leader and activist, Syed has fought to increase the minimum wages and benefits of the working class. Four years ago, he played a leading role in obtaining health benefits and workers¹ compensation benefits, and helped to collect thousands of dollars in back wages for limousine drivers with the help of the state attorney general.
Syed, 40, moved from Queens to East Meadow three years ago, and is confident that his experience, commitment to working families and political affiliation will garner him support come election day, Feb. 28.
³I have the experience ... and [the] commitment,² he said. ³As a Democrat, I will be a member of the majority and will be able to provide more access then the Republicans can. When I go to the Assembly, I will be able to bring the majority¹s support to the district. This will not be new to me, because I have worked with them in the past, and it will be good to get support from people I have worked with for the last 15 years.²
Syed chose to run for the Assembly so he could represent the working middle class in his district, and help solve the problems they face, such as high taxes. ³I have three children in this district,² he said. ³And the issues that affect us I know directly. I want to help people. I started getting involved in unions, health issues and now politics. This is my chance to help the middle class in my community, and I have the experience to do the job.²
Syed believes that the biggest issues facing his district are the ever-increasing property and school taxes. He also believes that the lack of jobs in Nassau County has resulted in the exodus of young adults in their 20s and 30s. ³Our kids are moving from the county because their are no jobs,² he said. ³In addition, the county is not receiving its fair share of school tax. Nassau gets 17 percent from Albany, and the rest of the state gets 37 percent. Nassau County should get its fair share.²
Tom McKevitt
McKevitt, a Republican, has been an attorney for the Town of Hempstead for the last nine years. He is a graduate of Hofstra and Hofstra Law School, and holds membership in the American, New York state and Nassau County bar associations. He is also a longtime member of the East Meadow Kiwanis Club and Chamber of Commerce. In his spare time, he mentors children from local middle schools.
McKevitt¹s father, Thomas, was a New York City police detective and his mother, Patricia, was a school secretary at St. Anne School in Garden City. When McKevitt was born, in 1971, his parents lived in East Rockaway, but they moved to East Meadow a year later. ³I have lived in East Meadow for the last 33 years,² McKevitt said.
He explained that his job enables him to sit through many community meetings, which has resulted in his being drawn to public service. ³It¹s something I felt a long time ago in college,² he said. ³In Hofstra I studied political science, and during law school I had started getting involved locally.²
From 2000 to 2002, McKevitt served as secretary and treasurer of the Kiwanis Club. During those two years, McKevitt was able to devote himself to community service. ³The year I was secretary of the East Meadow Kiwanis was my proudest year,² he said. ³Being able to help people is what I enjoy doing, and this [Assembly] position will enable me to make changes. There is a nice feeling knowing that your job is to make someone else¹s life easier.²
If elected, McKevitt says, he plans to implement school spending oversight. ³I would definitely consider putting in a state office of inspector general to oversee all school boards,² he said. ³If I¹m elected, the one thing I want to do is talk to the many villages that are in the district and see what I can do to help.²
McKevitt believes that the biggest issue his potential constituents face his community is the state¹s lack of school funding. ³There are state-imposed mandates, and school districts should get their fair share of aid,² he said. ³That and the ever-increasing property taxes are the most important issues facing our community, and I will fight to get these issues resolved in Albany.²
Election for the 17th Assembly District will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at local polling places. The district covers parts of Mineola, Garden City, Williston Park, East Williston, New Hyde Park, Garden City Park, Carle Place, Westbury, Uniondale, Albertson, East Meadow, Floral Park, Roosevelt, Wantagh, Merrick, North Merrick, Bellmore and North Bellmore.
Comments about this story? HFlores@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 283.
