Candidate Profile: Steve Rhoads For Nassau Legislator

BELLMORE, NY — Nassau County residents will head to the polls on Nov. 2 for Election Day. Several county legislative seats are on the ballot, including the 19th district.

It covers the southern portions of Merrick, Bellmore, Wantagh and Seaford.

The incumbent, Republican Steve Rhoads, is being challenged by Jacob Schuster, the Democrat.

Patch reached out to both candidates to hear where they stand on important issues affecting the community.

Steve Rhoads

Age (as of Election Day)

52

Position Sought

Nassau County Legislator - 19th District

Party Affiliation

Republican, Conservative

Family

Married

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Education

BA - SUNY Albany
JD - Hofstra Law School

Occupation

Attorney - admitted 26 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Nassau County Legislator

Campaign website

SteveRhoads.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

To continue to make a positive difference in my community. It is wonderful to have the opportunity to solve problems and try to make government work for people. It's why I ran in the first place and why I continue to love representing my neighbors in the 19th Legislative District.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Protecting our suburban quality of life. If we cannot feel safe in our homes and communities, nothing else matters. We all want safe streets, good schools, quality parks and amenities and we want our kids to have the same opportunities we had growing up. These are all jeopardized by high taxes; an unfair and secretive assessment system; cashless bail and criminal justice reforms that are making our families and communities less safe. That is why I have never voted for a tax increase and I have worked to pass a plan to deliver $120 million in property tax cuts and over $100 million in fee relief to Nassau taxpayers. That is why I have fought against the County Executive's reassessment which has raised school and property taxes on 70% of homeowners in my district. That is also why I have stood firm against efforts to defund the police and have worked to provide them with the training and resources they need to make Nassau County the safest suburban County in America.

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

I have a record of getting things done. I have always voted to fully fund our police, stood against Albany's dangerous cashless bail law that allowed criminals to return to our streets, and fought to make Nassau more affordable. I am proud of my record of cutting taxes and delivering real results for our district. Whether it's fighting against Laura Curran's plan to charge little leagues thousands in fees to use County parks or her plan to remove law enforcement from the Nassau County jail; fighting some in my own party to build a park in south Merrick; getting an emergency access road in Seaford or accomplishing major road projects all across our district, obtaining County grants for schools, libraries and our first responders or helping small businesses and residents recover from the pandemic, I don't back down from a challenge and I don't let anyone stand in the way of standing up for my constituents. I look forward to building on these accomplishments in my next term.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, my colleagues and I in the Republican Majority continued to meet to pass critical legislation that got our police and first responders the PPE and other equipment they needed to stay safe, provided financial relief to small businesses, and provided direct assistance to Nassau residents. The County Executive was wrong to spend almost $100 million in federal money on salaries and filling budget holes instead of helping businesses and residents struggling to recover; providing assistance hospitals and schools, supplying increased testing and vaccination sites, and help for our seniors and veterans. As a first responder myself for 29 years, I will make sure that the ARPA funds received by the County are used to provide real relief to those impacted by the pandemic and those that risked their safety to protect ours.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Creating opportunities for young people to stay here in Nassau. Working with Civic Associations and Chambers of Commerce, we can find opportunities for transit-oriented development. The Village of Farmingdale provides an example in the transformation of its Main Street corridor to include apartment-style housing geared towards young professionals in proximity to the LIRR with restaurants, a grocery store, dry cleaners, etc., within walking distance. This provides an opportunity for young people to transition to independent living while they save to enter the housing market. Job creation is another important goal. Both the pandemic and the continued erosion of public safety in NYC, have provided Long Island with an opportunity to entice companies providing high-tech, good-paying jobs, to make the move. Working with our Nassau County IDA, we should be encouraging business development and providing opportunities for our young people to find sustainable jobs locally without having to move out of state. Nassau should also work with New York State to create a first-time homebuyer tax credit for Nassau residents to help put home ownership in reach for our Kids. Better leadership and a comprehensive strategy for business development, job creation and housing opportunities will stem the tide of Nassau’s “brain drain” This year, I also passed comprehensive legislation protecting County taxpayers by making utilities financially responsible for the damage they do to taxpayer-funded County roadways. Since I have been aggressive in pursuing major road projects such as Merrick Road, Merrick Avenue, Bellmore Avenue and planned projects for Wantagh Avenue and Newbridge Road, protecting your investment is critically important. I am also proud to have sponsored legislation expanding Nassau's stance against the BDS movement.

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

I've done the job for 6 years and over that time, I've built a history of delivering real results for the residents of my district. I've championed tax relief; expanding opportunity and job creation and openness and transparency in government. I've stood up for residents on causes large and small from blocking a cabaret threatening a neighborhood in Wantagh to providing radios, SCBA's, stretchers and AED's to fire departments and schools. I've fought to obtain park upgrades and to repave roadways. I've passed legislation expanding RAVE technology to keep kids safer in schools and all of us safer in churches and large arenas. I've stood up for the things that matter most to preserving our quality of life. Ultimately, that's what the job is about.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Do the right thing because it's the right thing to do, even when no one is looking.

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

It's been an honor to serve the residents of this district and with your support, I look forward to continuing to fight to keep Nassau County a safe and affordable place to live, work and raise a family.