Meet the Candidates: Kevin Surdi For Assembly District 6

LONG ISLAND, NY — Suffolk County residents will be lining up at the polls for Election Day on Nov. 8, where they will be voting for candidates who align with own their values.

Republican candidate Kevin Surdi, an ER nurse, is running for New York State's 6th Assembly District. He will face incumbent Assemblyman Phil Ramos, who has served the district since 2003.

The 6th State Assembly District covers Bay Shore, Baywood, Brentwood, Central Islip, Hauppauge, Islip, Islandia and North Bay Shore.

Patch reached out to both candidates to hear where they stand on important issues affecting the community. Here are the responses for those who participated. The answers have been lightly edited for clarity.

Check out Surdi's full Q&A below:

Campaign website

https://www.surdifornewyork.co...

City or town of residence

Bay Shore

Office sought

NYS Assembly District 6

Party affiliation

Republican and Conservative

Education

Master's degree in business administration and a bachelor's degree of science in Nursing

Occupation

Registered Nurse (emergency department), former EMT, 20+ years experience in emergency medicine. Business owner, where I specialize in organizational and leadership development consulting.

Family

I have been married to my wonderful wife for eight years, and we are blessed with three incredible children.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Age

35

Previous public office, appointive or elective

No.

Why are you seeking this office?

This district has been misrepresented for over 20 years. After seeing the most recent actions from the current representative, it is time for a change. From inflation, gas prices, cashless bail, soaring crime, and senseless mandates, I cannot stand idly by. I am running to bring back the representation this community deserves. As a frontline ER nurse and former EMT, I have served the communities and families throughout Long Island for nearly 20 years. I plan on continuing my service to those communities by fighting as your representative for New York's 6th Assembly District.

John F. Kennedy eloquently said, “Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future.”

I have dedicated my life to the service of others. I began my career as an EMT working in the NYC 911 system, continued to care for the health of the community as a registered nurse in the emergency departments across Long Island, and later impacted greater change in healthcare as an administrator of emergency nursing. I also own a consulting business where I train organizations that include, Google, Johnson & Johnson, Uber, the Department of Defense, and many health care organizations across the country, on how to hold difficult conversations, maintain accountability, influence behavior changes, and how to create new habits. All of those skills need to be brought to Albany.

I attended Cathedral Prep Seminary High School in Elmhurst NY, where I considered becoming a Catholic priest. I then obtained my Bachelor's degree in Nursing from Molloy College in Rockville Centre. While at Molloy, I was the community service representative of the student government. I raised and donated thousands of dollars through fundraisers to healthcare research, financially struggling American communities, and even donated much needed pediatric medical supplies to a war torn country in dire need; in addition to many other community service projects over 4 years. In 2016, I completed my Master’s degree in Business Administration from Grand Canyon University.

I'm a father to three amazing kids, and husband to an incredible wife. I want our children to grow up with a government they can trust, and have faith in. I do not want them to grow up and see their government fighting over party politics rather than serving the people they represent. I want to show them how to stand up for what is right.

I grew up as the oldest of five children, with both parents being elementary school teachers. The seven of us shared a two-bedroom apartment in Glendale, Queens, where we learned the value of family and hard work. I personally understand the struggles of lower income and middle-class families. I also know the impact of loss. We lost our home to flooding during hurricane Sandy and, shortly after, lost our father to his 10-year battle with prostate cancer. These are lessons I will not forget while serving as your Assemblyman.

As Americans, we can do better. We need to do better. Through division, we will lose. Through unity, we can continue to be the greatest nation on Earth.

I will listen to you. I will fight for you. I will make certain your voice is heard in your government.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am not a career politician. I am an ER Nurse and former EMT that has dedicated my life to community service. I am a husband, father, and small business owner that has been both personally and professionally affected by disastrous Albany policies my opponent has supported and continues to support. I am a family man that just wants what is best for our families and our community. My opponent has been in office for 22 years. It's time for a change. One of my top priorities is term limits. No one, from either party, should be in office for 20+ years. I support our law enforcement, I am against cashless bail, I support term limits, I am completely against all covid related mandates. My opponent actively seeks to defund the police, he supports letting criminals back onto the street to harm our families, he has no intention of leaving office - even after serving 22 years; he even ran for two seats at the same time, state senate and assembly. He fully supports keeping our children and toddlers in masks and forcing unnecessary and potentially harmful vaccines on them. I am an ER Nurse that fought in the ER and ICU all during the pandemic. I know how to properly protect and care for our community.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

He voted to keep our children in masks, long after covid numbers were at all-time low's. He fully supports mask and vaccine mandates. He supports cashless bail. Letting harmful criminals back onto the streets of our community to harm our families. He has voted against initiatives that support our community first responders. He actively promotes a pro criminal, anti law enforcement agenda. He sponsored legislation that seals felonies after a certain amount of time. Meaning, a convicted felon would be released into the community to likely cause harm to our families. And even worse, he sponsored Elder Parole. This legislation would release individuals age 55 and older REGARDLESS of their crime. My opponent sponsored a bill that says a murderer could be let out of jail, if they are over 55 years old and served at least 15 years. My opponent is intentionally harming the families in this great community.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Repeal cashless bail. Support term limits. End all covid related mandates. Make NY affordable.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

As an emergency department registered nurse and former NYC EMT, I have always responded when the community called for help. I cared for the communities on the front lines in the ER and ICU during the pandemic.

As a small business owner and consultant, I have worked with Fortune 500 companies teaching executives, management, and staff, how to hold crucial conversations, influence positive behaviors, and maintain accountability...all necessary skills that need to be brought to Albany.
Throughout my college career, I was the community service chairperson of the student government. I raised a great deal of money, organized essential blood drives, and many other initiatives that supported communities in need.

I have always lived a life of service to others. Being an Assemblyman is not a career. It's a service. I will bring the same compassion, the same fight, the same service I gave in you in the emergency departments to Albany. I will listen to you, I will fight for you, I will make certain your voice is heard in your government.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

There are a few mantras I try to live by each day:
The only thing necessary for evil to thrive, is for good people to stand by and do nothing.
Love one another. Treat others as you would expect to be treated.
Stand up and fight for what you know to be right. Do not let others manipulate you into changing your values just because it may be unpopular at the moment.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am running for this Assembly seat in District 6, so we can all enjoy a safer and more prosperous community. I am not a career politician. My entire career has be serving others. I humbly ask for your support this election day. Let's be the change we want to see. Vote Kevin Surdi for NYS Assembly on Nov. 8th and I promise I will not let you down.