NYC General Election 2020: Sakelos Challenges Braunstein

BAYSIDE, QUEENS — Voters in Northeast Queens' 26th Assembly District will see two names when they cast their ballot in the Nov. 3 election.

Republican John-Alexander Sakelos is taking on incumbent state Assembly Member Edward C. Braunstein, who was first elected in 2010.

Sakelos is a teacher who has also worked as a professional stage actor and helps his family run a small business, Flowers by Peter, in Flushing. He lives in Bayside.

He is vying to represent Auburndale, Bay Terrace, Bayside, Bayside Hills, Broadway-Flushing,

Douglaston, Floral Park, Glen Oaks, Little Neck, New Hyde Park, North Shore Towers, Oakland Gardens and Whitestone in the state legislature.

Patch reached out to all candidates in the race to create these profiles.

All New York voters may request a mail-in ballot for the upcoming election due to the coronavirus pandemic. For those who want to head to the polls, click here to find your poll site. Early voting is available from Oct. 24 to Nov. 1.

John-Alexander Sakelos

Age as of Election Day (Nov. 3)

26

NYC neighborhood of residence

Bayside, Queens

Position Sought

State Assembly

Party Affiliation

Republican, Conservative, and Save Our City (an independent, anti-deBlasio line).

Family

My family owns Flowers by Peter in Flushing, Queens. We've operated small businesses in New York City since the 1920s.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Education

I received my BFA from the University of Michigan and my MFA from George Washington University.

Occupation

Public school teacher, professor of humanities, union stage actor, and I've had managerial positions in the flower and restaurant businesses.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None.

Campaign website

www.john4ny.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

Safety, Affordability and Transparency.
Consistently rising and unnecessary taxes and fees have been strangling middle class families and job-creating mom-and-pop businesses in this district; we must revise the tax code to protect the middle class. We need to repeal and replace the Bail Elimination Act that has caused a huge uptick in crime and unnecessary deaths in New York. Unfortunately the State Assembly has been prone to graft in recent years- while I don't think term limits wouldn't be a total problem solver, it certainly would be a step in the right direction!

The single most pressing issue facing our nation/state/community is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing our community and New York City at large is the passage of the Bail Elimination Act. While well-intentioned, the execution of the law was irresponsible and puts residents in danger. As it stands now, criminals who commit arson, burglary, or even possess illicit images of minors are released without bail as soon as they're arrested. Judges should be allowed the discretion to deem whether or not an offense was truly non-violent rather than being forced to use the bail reform as a catch-all, which has contributed to rising crime and death tolls in the city.

What are your thoughts on the state and national response to the coronavirus pandemic? Do you favor such measures as limiting operation of non-essential businesses or restricting indoor/outdoor dining? And do you favor a nationwide mask mandate?

We should open up so we do not crush the small businesses community while still taking steps to do so safely. I believe that a national mask mandate would be unconstitutional and impossible to practically implement.

How would you address the concerns of the Black Lives Matter movement, and what are your thoughts on the demonstrations held since the death of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake?

I believe that everyone deserves equal and fair treatment under the law. Additionally, it is everyone's constitutional right to protest peaceably in the name of justice. I do not condone unrestrained riots and looting that put lives and businesses at risk. I hold the PBA and DEA endorsement proudly and I think that our police are the finest in the world.

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

My opponent is a career politician who was with Sheldon Silver as legislative assistant at the height of the graft scandal. His uncles are lobbyists who were in Sheldon's inner circle- they have given him tens of thousands of dollars. By comparison, I have real world experience in various small businesses and will bring common sense reform to Albany. All of my donations have been from people within the community and I am proud to say I have not taken a dime of lobbyist money.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

He has voted for the dangerous Bail Elimination Act and supported deBlasio's anti-police agenda; he has voted to increase taxes 180 times and then lied about it.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

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

My background in both education and small business management gives me a unique perspective and understanding of the community I wish to represent. I was born and raised here and it would be an honor to represent the people of the 26th.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

God gave you two ears and one mouth. Use them accordingly.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am a proud Union member who has experience as a professional stage actor, educator and small business owner. We keep having the same problems because we elect the same politicians who offer the same self-serving solutions.