Meet the Candidates: Phil Ramos 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.

Assemblyman Phil Ramos, who has represented New York State's 6th Assembly District since 2003, is running for re-election this November. He is challenged by Republican candidate and ER nurse, Kevin Surdi.

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 Ramos's full Q&A below:

Name

Phil Ramos

Campaign website

https://www.facebook.com/philr...

City or town of residence

North Bay Shore

Office sought

NYS Assembly

Party affiliation

Democrat

Education

After graduating from Brentwood High School, I attended and graduated from the Suffolk County Sheriff's Academy and the Suffolk County Police Academy.

Occupation

New York State Assemblyman- Assistant Speaker

Family

Ángela Ramos- Wife

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

None in the government I work for.

Age

66

Previous public office, appointive or elective

I've served 20 years as a New York State Assemblyman.

Why are you seeking this office?

To continue securing capital, infrastructure funds for my district, advancing projects that improve the quality of life for our working families. To secure proper funding for our schools and hold the line on property taxes. Also, to pass legislation that mitigates the post pandemic inflation that our residents are experiencing, as we did in the past by remove the state gasoline tax. And to be a voice for our community when they are neglected by all levels of government. And to be a strong advocate for the voiceless.

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

After 20 years of public service working in my community as a Police Officer and another 20 years as Assemblyman, I have dedicated a major part of my life to serving, defending and providing for my community. I have worked my way up through the NYS Assembly to rise among my peers to the leadership position of Assistant Speaker, in which I have been actually at the table negotiating budgets. This experience has put me in the position to leverage and secure historic amounts of funding unmatched by many. With the above record, voters can make a comparison between my opponent.

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

I am the incumbent and would rather not attack my opponents record or credential as it more transparent to run on my record. I will give the voters the respect to make the comparisons and form their own conclusion.

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

Getting local governments to deal with the homeless situation in our towns. Preventing the siting of undesirable projects in our community, such as the Omni waste facility. Cutting off all truck traffic from residential areas by creating alternative routes such as a spur parallel to the Sagdikos parkway.

Increasing the amount of foundation aid to our schools so that are children can be on an even playing field.

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

I have been a main driver of the NYS Dream Act. I sponsored and was able to pass legislation outlawing Child Marriage. I negotiated the elimination of the draconian Rockafella Drug laws with Governor Cuomo.

I helped create foundation aid to schools with high need.

I helped bring back Clemente Park, bigger and better, after it had been contaminated while local governments were asleep at the switch. I secured 2 million dollars to place a state-of-the-art spray park at Clemente. $125k to create an African American Studies section of the Central Islip library. 1/2 million dollars to improve parks in Central Islip.

$300k for STRONG Long Island to conduct gang prevention programs in our schools.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Put people before politics.

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

We are in the process of creating a Sensory Park for autistic kids to be placed in Clemente Park. We are reaching across the aisle and partnering with the Town of Islip to develop our downtowns with a visioning study I have funded with $200k.

I thank my constituents for the opportunity to serve you for the past 20 years, and I will continue to advocate and work with all stakeholders to improve the quality of life for our working families.