By Hector Flores
In phone interviews with both candidates, the Herald discussed two of the biggest issues facing the district, the need for affordable housing and tax relief.
sub head: Affordable housing
"After I graduated college, I worked for a short period of time as a teacher at a middle school in Syosset, and I understand firsthand the need for affordable housing," Walker said. "We have to continue for fight for our property taxpayers and work to provide property tax relief. We also need next-generation and work-force housing. We have to make housing affordable for young adults and seniors. We need to keep them on Long Island."
Walker added that he is currently working on developing programs and legislation aimed at keeping young people in New York state and on Long Island.
Pangburn said that home ownership on the Island is near impossible because of high property taxes. He believes the state's School Tax Relief (STAR) program needs to be revamped to bring more assistance to first-time home buyers and seniors. "We also need more affordable housing on Long Island," Pangburn said. "We have 10 different colleges on Long Island, and graduating seniors can't afford to live here."
sub head: Tax relief
Walker said he has sponsored legislation to alleviate the tax burden on homeowners and provide more opportunities for first-time home buyers. He supported a cap on the state gas tax, the elimination of the sales tax on clothing under $110, the elimination of the marriage penalty and the distribution of property tax rebate checks.
All these efforts, Walker said, are intended to reduce the burden of taxes on homeowners. In addition, he said that he has worked hard to increase state aid to schools and helped enact the Medicaid Fraud Prevention and Recovery Act, which will save tax payers $4.5 billion in fraud.
Pangburn countered that the tax burden ‹ both state and property ‹ could be address by giving incentives to businesses to set up shop on Long Island. "We need to give businesses a reason to come to Long Island," he said. "The more businesses stay on Long Island, the more they will help alleviate the tax burden on homeowners."
Before his election, Walker served as deputy commissioner of parks for the Town of Oyster Bay from 2002 to 2005, and spearheaded the town's Save Environmental Assets Fund Committee. From 1998 to 2001 he served as an assistant to Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto.
In May of 2005, Walker won a special election for the 15th Assembly District seat. Since then he has become the ranking member of the Assembly¹s Tourism, Arts and Sports Development Committee, and he is also a member of the standing committees on Energy and Aging. In addition, Walker serves on several task forces, including Medicaid Fraud, Waste and Abuse, Safer Communities and Successful Schools.
Walker is a graduate of Hicksville High School, where he was student government president. He earned a degree in education from Long Island University, where he was on the dean's list and was a member of the 1996 NCAA Division II champion lacrosse team. Walker is a lifelong resident of Hicksville, where he lives with his wife, Elizabeth.
Pangburn has lived in Nassau County all his life, and is currently attending Nassau Community College. He is involved in numerous school organizations, include the Student Government Association, in which he is a senator; the Political Science Organization, where he is vice president; and the Wall Street Club. He is a graduate of W.T. Clarke High School in the East Meadow.
At his high school graduation he received several scholarships, including the American Legion¹s Tony D'Alessandro Memorial Scholarship, the Sen. Kemp Hannon Citizenship Advancement Award, the Community Association of Stewart Avenue Scholarship, and the W.T. Clarke High School PTSA Scholarship.
Pangburn lives in Salisbury with his father, Gregg, his sister, Michele, and his stepmother, Jackie, and her children.
Comments about this story? HFlores@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 283.
