Candidate Profile: Nick LaLota For NY's 1st Congressional District

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Election Day is Tuesday and GOP candidate Nick LaLota and Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming, a Democrat, are waging a fierce race to win the New York State 1st Congressional District seat vacated by Rep. Lee Zeldin, who is running to unseat incumbent New York State Governor Kathy Hochul

After redistricting, New York's 1st Congressional District includes both the North and South Forks, Riverhead, the northern part of Brookhaven Town, all of Smithtown and all of Huntington.
In anticipation of the election, Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns. Here are their answers, lightly edited for clarity.

Name

Nick LaLota

Campaign website

https://www.nicklalota.com

City or town of residence

Babylon

Office sought

Member of Congress, New York's 1st Congressional District

Party affiliation

Republican

Education

Growing up in a blue-collar household, I learned the values of hard work and service to our community. It is that commitment to service which drives me to serve as our next member of Congress. My father was a Nassau County Police officer, my grandfathers were NYPD officers, and my stepfather served in the Navy. My mother, while working at Grumman assigned to the F-14 program, brought home U.S. Navy Tomcat models. My brother, Dan, is a retired Marine sniper who earned a Bronze Star with Valor for his service in Fallujah, Iraq. I also served. While a senior at St. Anthony’s High School, I applied to one of the few coveted spots at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. Selected for academic record and leadership, I attended and earned my degree from Annapolis. I entered the Navy and attained the rank of lieutenant. Serving our nation in uniform, I was then sent overseas on three separate occasions, deploying to 20 countries. As a surface warfare officer, I served as assistant operations officer on the USS Curts and as a tactical action officer on USS Carl Vinson, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. I was awarded a joint service commendation medal for my service in support of the global war on terrorism. I returned home to Long Island to marry my high-school sweetheart, Kaylie, and start a family. I earned my MBA from Hofstra University and a JD from Hofstra Law.

Occupation

I currently serve as chief of staff to the Suffolk County Legislature. There, I work with the presiding officer, county legislators, staff, and the public to deliver superior municipal services at affordable tax rates while protecting our environment — especially the surface waters and drinking waters. I help to oversee Suffolk County’s $3.7 billion budget, which services the county’s 1.5 million residents.

Prior to being the county legislature’s chief of staff, I served as commissioner of the Suffolk County Board of Elections, where I worked diligently to make it easier to vote and harder to cheat in our democratic process. I also served as chief of staff to a New York State senator, where I learned about how to ensure citizen voices were heard as I helped direct legislation, government relations, strategy and community outreach.

Family

My wife Kaylie is a teacher in the Northport-East Northport School District. We have three awesome daughters: Maggie Rae (13) Reagan Elizabeth (11); and Brooke Murphy (8).

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Age

44

Previous public office, appointive or elective

Trustee, Village of Amityville; commissioner, Suffolk County Board of Elections

Why are you seeking this office?

I believe the United States of America is the greatest country the world has ever known — and right now Long Island families are struggling, now more than ever. Inflation caused by a backwards energy policy and government overspending is crippling middle class Long Islanders. For every dollar New Yorkers send to Washington, we only get 93 cents back; that is the fifth worst rate of return of any state in America. In Congress, I want to fight for New York’s fair share, keep our communities safe, and make Long Island more affordable for middle class families.

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

I am laser-focused on the issues hurting Long Islanders. I’m committed to fighting inflation, supporting law enforcement and keeping our communities safe — and my record proves it. I became a village trustee when the village was in dire financial straights; as budget officer, I cut my own pay 20 percent, refused health benefits, cut discretionary spending 25 percent, increased the number of cops on the streets, paved our roads, kept budgets under the tax cap and earned the village credit rating upgrades. My record is one of supporting police, and providing law enforcement more resources for vehicles and equipment.

In contrast, Bridget Fleming has voted to increase county spending by $1.54 billion dollars in just six years, raise property taxes $66 million, celebrated Biden’s disastrous economic policies and would be a rubber stamp on Nancy Pelosi’s anti-public safety agenda. In fact, my opponent is on video saying the 2020 riots were "justified" and that she was "glad" for the movement; saying there is “widespread” systemic racism in law enforcement; supporting defunding the police to hire social workers instead; calling the death of Breonna Taylor "murder," instead of a tragic accident or even negligence; and supporting sanctuary city and sanctuary county policies, blocking police from working with ICE and detaining gang members for deportation. My opponent supported the highest dollar police budgets that produced the lowest number of cops on the streets in years.

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

Public safety. We need to reverse the pro-crime, pro-criminal policies and anti-police rhetoric coming out of Albany and DC. While most of the public safety issues we face are the result of New York State’s bail reform law and Governor Hochul’s refusal to fire district attorneys who allow criminals to terrorize our streets, we need public officials to have the backs of law enforcement and everyday Long Islanders and business owners who fall prey to emboldened criminals — and that means properly fundng our police, policies that allow police to enforce the law and strong rhetoric in support of our cops, including not second-guessing split-second decision-making cops make in the field while they put their lives on the lines for our safety every day.

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

Graduating from the United States Naval Academy and serving on three overseas deployments to 20 countries instilled the discipline required to stay on mission in DC. Earning credit rating upgrades and improving village finances while expanding road paving, prioritizing funding our police, and accomplishing these achievements under the tax cap demonstrates I am well-equipped to serve Long Island in Washington.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

When I was a plebe (first year student) at the Naval Academy and wanted to resign to relieve myself of the stresses and pressures, Brother Joshua DiMauro — a mentor of mine from Saint Anthony’s— strongly “advised” that I don’t resign and that I owed it to myself and everyone who helped me to earn the nomination and appointment to stick it out, even and especially since it was difficult. This “tough love” helped me get through the next few weeks and months and eventually led to me graduating and serving as an officer in the Navy— the best job I ever had!

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

I’ll work with anyone to ensure America remains the greatest country our world has ever known.