Meet Gina Arena, The Challenger For NY State Senate District 40 Seat

Name

Gina Arena

Campaign website

Gina Arena for Senate

City or town of residence

Somers

Office sought

State Senate, SD-40

Party affiliation

Republican

Education

John Jay Sr. High School in Cross River Secretarial School; Currently working on an Associate's Degree in Business Administration

Occupation

Westchester County Laboratories & Research Jr. Administrative Assistant

Family

Married to Jim Arena for 35 years, who is a volunteer Firefighter; Had eight kids together: Casey - 33, partner Timothy Romero, Cameron - Grandson; Jessica - 32; Victoria Boquin - 30, Married to Juan-Carlos Boquin, Aria - Granddaughter; Amanda LeDonne - 26, married to Nicholas LeDonne, Leila - Granddaughter; Jaime - 25, in college major psychology; Jimmy - forever 6, passed away from a brain tumor in 2005; Emma - 20, working full-time; Michael - 16, student at Somers High School.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Age

56

Previous public office, appointive or elective

No

Why are you seeking this office?

I am seeking my neighbors' support for State Senate because I believe the New York State that I love is becoming way too unaffordable and way too unsafe for my fellow residents. I have kids and grandkids that deserve to grow up in a state with the same opportunities I was afforded when I was their age.

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

My opponent is one of the Albany Politicians that created the problems we are facing today: High Crime and High Taxes. We can't expect him to solve the problems he created. I am an everyday New Yorker who has felt these issues on the ground level and ready to be the change to fix these problems.

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

Peter Harckham has failed to listen to the overwhelming concerns us Hudson Valley residents have. We are concerned with rising violent crime, yet he has supported cashless bail and no judicial discretion to keep repeat violent offenders off our streets. We are concerned with the unaffordability of our state, yet he has voted for bloated, reckless state budgets which warrant tax increases and he even voted for a $23 a day commuter tax on Hudson Valley residents entering NYC. We are concerned with the non-stop corruption and scandal which has plagued New York State Government. Yet Peter Harckham enabled Andrew Cuomo for years. He did the bidding of Governor Hochul when her Lt. Gov. was arrested on Corruption Charges and Peter voted to change the election rules to hide this from New York voters. And Peter Harckham hasn't spoken a word about Kathy Hochul's Pay-to-Play Scandal.

Would you seek to overturn New York's abortion law protecting medical choices for women 7+ months pregnant?

This issue is very personal to a lot of people – I understand that. In my personal life, I lived by the belief in the right to life. I am a woman. A mother of eight children. A mother who has been in the delivery room eight times. But I understand for other women, they have a right to choose. My priority as State Senator will not be changing laws relating to a woman’s ability to choose - which are already codified in state law. My focus would be restoring public safety and making New York more affordable.

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

I am very passionate about improving the education of our local schools, enhancing mental health treatment for our students and young people, and bettering drug addiction services for people struggling with addiction. As well as streamlining services for Seniors, Veterans, and People with Disabilities.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

It is not what someone gave me. It is was what someone taught me. The life and the death of my six-year-old son taught me to live my life with no regrets and to the fullest. Life is fragile and we are here to take care of one another and do the best we can to be kind.

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

I am not a partisan. I am ready to be an independent voice for those I represent.

• I have been working hard towards a degree in Business Administration.
• I have helped run my husband's small business.
• I understand finance and the laws of state government, as I currently work for Westchester County doing this type of work.
• I have a child that suffered from opioid addiction, and thankfully has made a decision through hard work to stay in recovery.
• I have a child with autism and now lives in a group home in Westchester where it is going very well.
• I have a child that is a veteran of the US Army. Served for eight years.
• I have run two successful not-for-profits that help children with autism and help children with life threatening diseases.
• I work hard to advocate for those that cannot advocate for themselves.