Candidate Profile: Steve Rhoads For State Senate

BELLMORE, NY — Election Day is fast approaching and while the presidential race is getting much of the attention, there are many down-ballot races of note.

In the State Senate, Steve Rhoads seeks reelection in the 5th District against Democratic Lisa Lin. The 5th District covers South Shore towns such as Bellmore, Merrick, Wantagh and Seaford, along with parts of Bethpage, Levittown, Hicksville and East Meadow.

In anticipation of the election, Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns for candidate profiles ahead of Election Day. These responses are lightly edited for clarity.

Name: Steve Rhoads
Campaign website: www.steverhoads.com
City or town of residence: Bellmore
Office sought: State Senator (SD-5)
Party affiliation: Republican
Education: Steve attended Wantagh Public Schools and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the State University of New York at Albany. He earned a Juris Doctorate from Hofstra University School of Law and was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1995.
Occupation: State Senator, Private Attorney, Volunteer Firefighter
Family: Married
Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? My mother is retired from public service and currently works part-time
Age: DOB: 12/21/1968 (Age: 55)
Previous public office, appointive or elective: NY State Senate (2023-2024), Nassau County Legislator (2015-2022)

Why are you seeking this office?
After 22 months as your State Senator, I am seeking re-election to continue the fight for common sense in Albany. Thanks to Democratic one-party rule in our State, New York is #1 in taxes. We are #4 in spending. We have the second worst business climate in the Nation according to Forbes magazine. We lead the country in outward migration, losing 1.5 million people to other states in just the last 10 years - not because people want to leave....but because many can’t afford to stay. The 340,000 residents I’m privileged to represent want the same things: safe streets; good schools and opportunities for our kids and grandkids to build a life and achieve success. That fight for common sense and for the American Dream is one I take to the floor of the Senate every day.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking
this post?
Unlike my opponent, I am a native Long Islander having grown up right in the Senate district I’m now privileged to represent. As a volunteer firefighter for over 30 years and as a former Nassau County Attorney who worked to defend law enforcement, I understand what it takes to keep a community safe. As a Nassau County Legislator for nearly 8 years, I have a proven track record of delivering for my constituents - freezing taxes, controlling spending, supporting first responders, protecting public safety, preserving our environment and our suburban quality of life and fighting for the future of our families. I have continued and expanded that work in the State Senate,
working in bi-partisan fashion to find areas of common ground, but never compromising on principle. That is why I am proud to say that my candidacy has been fueled by contributions from fellow Long Islanders, not New York City interests trying to influence local elections. That is also why I am proud to have been endorsed by dozens of police associations, labor unions and
civic and business groups who recognize my work for a brighter future for all Long Islanders.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
Public safety should be the government's first responsibility and is my first priority. Unfortunately, New York has seen an increase in violent crime brought about by lax bail laws and heightened gang activity from an influx of migrants into New York City and surrounding communities. We must stop this pandemic of lawlessness gripping cities and suburbs alike by untying the hands of law enforcement and restoring judicial discretion to set bail and to
share information with other law enforcement agencies. This trend of violent crime can be reversed by restoring judicial discretion, ending sanctuary status and giving law enforcement the tools it needs to keep us safe.

Second, inflation, housing costs and explosive government spending have contributed to both residents and businesses choosing to find opportunities in other states. Affordability, economic development and our increasing tax burden must be addressed for New York to survive. We can reverse this outward trend by addressing runaway spending, the primary driver of inflation. We must also create sustainable jobs both in existing industries as well as new technologies by providing new educational pathways for vocational training. Lastly, streamlining regulations and creating a more attractive business climate in New York will lead to job creation and economic
growth.

Lastly, quality of life is of utmost importance. Long Island faces numerous challenges like the Grumman Plume; protection of our sole source aquifer; storm resiliency; traffic congestion; protections against overdevelopment; maintenance of local control of zoning; protecting Nassau University Medical Center and other areas that have a substantial impact on day-to-day life,
require steady and consistent leadership and bipartisan attention.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
As an incumbent, I have a track record of keeping my promises, sticking up for Long Island families, freezing taxes, controlling spending, supporting first responders, protecting public safety, preserving our environment and our suburban quality of life. As a State Senator, I worked in a bipartisan fashion to make New York the first in the nation to protect our kids from social media feeds; fought to restore school aid that was cut in the Governor’s Executive Budget; introduce bipartisan initiatives to support first responders and extend benefits to the families of front-line workers who lost their lives during COVID.
I have introduced legislation to protect womens’ access to IVF treatment and extend insurance coverage for sonograms to women with a family history of breast cancer. I have sponsored and/or cosponsored legislation to reduce the cost of private water and fully fund the South Nassau Water Authority; fight the spread of anti-Semitism on college campuses; restore judicial discretion to set bail; protect parental rights and the integrity of our elections by requiring voter identification...and I’m just getting started.

What problems facing your district would you look to solve if you are elected/re-elected?

Public safety should be the government's first responsibility and is my first priority. Unfortunately, New York has seen an increase in violent crime brought about by lax bail laws and heightened gang activity from an influx of

migrants into New York City and surrounding communities. We must stop this
pandemic of lawlessness gripping cities and suburbs alike by untying the
hands of law enforcement and restoring judicial discretion to set bail and to
share information with other law enforcement agencies. This trend of violent
crime can be reversed by restoring judicial discretion, ending sanctuary status
and giving law enforcement the tools it needs to keep us safe.
Second, inflation, housing costs and explosive government spending have
contributed to both residents and businesses choosing to find opportunities in
other states. Affordability, economic development and our increasing tax
burden must be addressed for New York to survive. We can reverse this
outward trend by addressing runaway spending, the primary driver of
inflation. We must also create sustainable jobs both in existing industries as
well as new technologies by providing new educational pathways for
vocational training. Lastly, streamlining regulations and creating a more
attractive business climate in New York will lead to job creation and economic
growth.
Lastly, quality of life is of utmost importance. Long Island faces numerous
challenges like the Grumman Plume; protection of our sole source aquifer;
storm resiliency; traffic congestion; protections against overdevelopment;
maintenance of local control of zoning; protecting Nassau University Medical
Center and other areas that have a substantial impact on day-to-day life,
require steady and consistent leadership and bi-partisan attention.
17. Cancer is a prominent health issue for Long Islanders and is a leading cause
of death for children. What measures would you take to help lower cancer
rates and bolster research in the field?

Protecting our health and safety is my top priority. This is why I successfully
fought to direct the NYS Department of State to perform an expanded cancer
study and particularly the effects of the Grumman Plume so we can keep our
drinking water safe and our families healthy. I also, as State Senator, host
many pop-up mammogram screenings in conjunction with NUMC, so we can
detect cancer before it spreads and have sponsored legislation to require
insurance coverage for sonograms for women with a personal or
first-generation family history of breast cancer to ensure earlier detection. I
strongly support the enforcement of PFAS and 1.4 dioxaine standards in our
drinking water, particularly on Long Island as it is a sole source aquifer. I have
also voted for legislation that would enact the "pediatric cancer
neuropsychological needs assessment act" requiring insurers to provide
coverage for neuropsychological assessments for children with pediatric
cancers which affect brain development or function.

What would you do to help small businesses struggling with inflation and the cost of goods needed to manufacture their products?
I have introduced legislation to control government spending to require a supermajority in both houses of the legislature in order to approve any increase in taxes or fees, including “congestion pricing”, which would cripple Long Island businesses operating within Manhattan. I also support numerous pieces of legislation to reduce burdensome regulation and provide direct relief to small
businesses. For example, S. 1526 providing a tax deduction for small businesses of 25% of the wages, salaries or compensation paid to up to ten employees earning 110% of minimum wage as well as S. 4236 which increases the corporate tax threshold from $390,000 to $500,000 and reducing the small corporation tax rate from 6.5% to 2.5%, among others. I also oppose the State’s theft of $10 billion of Federal COVID relief funds earmarked for Unemployment Insurance Benefits and the Governor’s decision to now charge employers and small businesses an
additional tax to replenish the State’s Unemployment Insurance Fund

Water quality is critical to the region. What plans do you have to help improve
water quality and keep it safe for generations?
As State Senator, I have already voted to improve water infrastructure. For example, I cosponsored S.4350A, which established the safe water infrastructure action program to replace and improve local drinking water, storm water, flood prevention, and sewer systems, strengthening our environmental resiliency and spurring local economic growth. I also voted for S.8304D, which restored $250 million for clean water infrastructure.

How can the immigration crisis be addressed at the federal and local level? Can federal and local officials work together?
The simple answer to the question is that the problem cannot be solved without action from the federal government. The Federal government’s abdication of their responsibility to control the
northern and southern U.S. border has led to nearly 15 million illegal border crossings since taking office Their indiscriminate granting of “asylum” status to every migrant - a status reserved only for those fleeing war or political persecution - has overwhelmed the system, endangering public safety and has stressed State and local government budgets to the breaking point.
Making matters worse is that New York has rolled out the welcome mat for illegal immigration by declaring itself a “sanctuary”, offering free housing, education, food, medical care and other benefits being paid for by your tax dollars, while our own citizens are going without. For example, New York State has approved $2.4 billion in free medical care for migrants while over 700,000 tax-paying New Yorkers don’t have health coverage. It doesn’t make sense. New York City alone estimates their spending will exceed $12 billion. Yet, Governor Hochul has done nothing to seek reimbursement of these costs from the federal government for having created this crisis in the first place.
First, we must repeal our sanctuary status. Sanctuary status prohibits our law enforcement from sharing information with Federal immigration authorities, including notifying the Federal government when a migrant commits a crime. I’ve co-sponsored legislation to enact a full repeal.

Second, New York State should seek reimbursement from the federal government for every dollar State and local governments, including school districts, have spent and will continue to spend dealing with this situation. The governor and the attorney general have the power to take action, and they should....immediately.
Lastly, the southern and northern borders need to be enforced. New York State can’t do that on our own and the simple fact is that you cannot fix the problem of the migrant population already in the country until we stop the flow that is exacerbating the problem. The purported “bipartisan” solution rejected by Congress would have institutionalized the problem - not solved it.

The bill that was rejected would have permitted an additional 5,000 border crossings per day - that’s 1.7 million more crossings per year - before the border would be closed. The president has the power to stop these crossings on his own by Executive Order. He should do so. We are a nation
of immigrants, but controlled immigration is necessary to ensure that we have the resources to properly vet and integrate those who seek to enter the country through legal means.

What can be done about inflation, which some say can be attributed to price
gouging?
New York already has robust anti-gouging legislation. The real driver of the nearly 30% inflation we have seen over the past four years on nearly everything from eggs to gasoline is due to explosive government spending on both the federal and state levels and the dangerous increase of the debt.
New York’s budget alone has increased by nearly $70 billion.....almost 40 percent.....in the six years Democrats have had exclusive control of state government. That is unsustainable and is killing local businesses who merely pass that cost to local consumers. For example, New York State received nearly $10 billion from the Federal government in Unemployment Insurance
Benefit relief to replenish the State’s Unemployment Insurance Fund from COVID-related payments. Instead of putting that money in the fund, the State spent the $10 billion and is now charging employers an additional tax to replenish the fund.

The median cost of renting on Long Island falls between $2,000 and $3,100.
How can more affordable housing options be created?
Long Island has its own housing crisis, however the numerous attempts to override local control by the governor have been focused on changing the suburban character of our communities to be the overflow for New York City’s affordable housing crisis. Our focus should be on solutions to maintain Long Island’s population. The State should create an incentive-based model for
local governments and developers to receive State funds for working with local communities to identify and plan affordable housing options for seniors and young people looking to stay that fit the needs and character of our communities. We should also be supporting the creation of “transit-oriented development” in former industrial areas or transit hubs as has already
occurred in areas like Mineola, Farmingdale and Hicksville with success. It is
imperative, however, that we work with willing communities and local
governments to find a fit that’s right for them.

The reduction of property taxes benefits not only homeowners but renters as well. That’s why I’ve co-sponsored a $2.3 billion property tax cut by requiring the state government to pick up the local share of Medicaid spending outside of New York City over 5 years and requires the savings to be passed along to property owners. For reference, every dollar Nassau County government
collects in property taxes in its portion of your tax bill goes to fund Medicaid.
This would result in a 17% cut in your general property taxes.

What is your stance on SALT (State and Local Tax Relief)?
While this is a federal and not a state issue, it is critical that SALT deductions be fully restored by our federal government

What needs to be done to keep Long Island streets safe from crime?
The best way to keep Long Island streets safe is to keep dangerous criminals off of the streets. In order to do this, we must repeal the disastrous cash-bail reforms. That is why I cosponsored S.5335, which would repeal bail reforms and restore judicial discretion in our criminal justice system by giving judges the ability to set bail based on risk and the danger posed by a defendant.

Furthermore, supporting our law enforcement officers and first responders is crucial in combating violent crime. I am adamant about adequately funding our essential workers so that we can combat crime and keep New Yorkers safe. That is why I was proud to support $1 billion in funding for our New York State Police as part of the 2025 Budget.

The DWI/DWAI rate is escalating island wide. What measures can you fight for,
to address the escalating addiction crisis?
New York must increase penalties on those who distribute and sell illegal narcotics and that includes addressing our bail laws. Right now, someone selling Fentanyl can possess up to 8 ounces of the drug before the crime becomes bail eligible if a death is not involved. To give some perspective, the amount of Fentanyl it would take to cover Abraham Lincoln’s nose on a U.S. one-cent coin, is enough to kill you. 8 ounces of Fentanyl is enough to kill over 120,000 people. They should be in jail pending trial, not on the streets peddling more death. That is just one example, however. New York should also use opioid settlement funds for court-mandated drug treatment programs and give judges back the option to remand offenders who are at risk of serious harm from substance abuse to treatment, getting them the help that they need rather than simply putting them back on the streets. We should also expand heroin and opioid prevention and treatment funding and the expansion of peer support programs.

While not the only source of the problem, the lack of border enforcement also permits the
entry of illegal and often deadly drugs into the country and onto our streets in unprecedented numbers. Dealing with the border crisis is a necessary step in dealing with
our substance abuse crisis.

In our community, I have sponsored numerous NARCAN trainings, fentanyl awareness seminars, and prescription drug takeback days to take an active role in combating addiction right in my Senate District. I believe we should expand those seminars to raise awareness about the ongoing addiction crisis and continue to make state investments in vital mental health resources.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
The answer is always “no” to the question you don’t ask. In other words, the easiest way to ensure you won’t get what you want is not to try.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your
positions?
For more information, please feel free to visit our website at www.steverhoads.com or follow us on social media - Facebook @SteveRhoadsforStateSenate; Instagram @reelectSteveRhoads