Meet The Candidates: Joseph DeStefano In The 3rd Assembly District

MEDFORD, NY — Republican Joseph DeStefano is seeking reelection to the 3rd Assembly District on Nov. 5.

With Election Day just around the corner, Patch has been reaching out to the candidates to find out why they are running this November.

Here is what the assemblyman had to say:

Name: Joseph DeStefano

Campaign website: www.votejoedestefano.com

City or town of residence: Medford

Office sought: Reelection to the State Assembly’s 3rd District

Party affiliation: Republican/Conservative

Education: Patchogue/Medford High School graduate, associate degree in Business Management from Suffolk Community College

Occupation: State assemblyman

Family: Married with two children and two grandchildren

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? Yes, my son works in the Suffolk Sheriff’s office.

Age: 64

Previous public office, appointive or elective: Currently a state assemblyman and elected Medford Fire District commissioner

Why are you seeking this office? To continue my long career of service to my community.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post? My policies to make Long Island safe and affordable are vastly different from the candidates of the opposing party. They have ignored our bills to reduce inflation, cut taxes, fight crime, stop illegal immigration, and make Albany more accountable to the suburbs.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign? Securing Long Island’s fair share of the $1 trillion federal infrastructure fund and the state’s 4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? My record of community service dates back to 1980 when I joined the Medford Fire Department and ambulance service. I have been a district commissioner for more than 25 years and had a 28-year career with the Suffolk Sheriff’s office. I am active with many community groups, including the Medford Chamber of Commerce and Medford Taxpayers and Civic Association. I have a good reputation for constituent service over my last three terms as an assemblyman and have spent my career standing up for the hard-working men and women of this state.

What problems facing your district would you look to solve if you are re-elected? My top priorities are making our communities safer and more affordable, and protecting our water and other natural resources.

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? Keeping our water resources clean and protecting the environment is critical for a healthy population. Building sewers and I/A wastewater systems while eliminating cesspools is key to protecting our island, and we need more state and federal funds to accomplish this. I also support alternative energy sources such as Sunrise Wind and the green energy hub at the Brookhaven Landfill site. I support the bills and spending plans that include funds for cancer research and treatment.

What would you do to help small businesses struggling with inflation and the cost of goods needed to manufacture their products? I am a co-sponsor of the “Rescue New York” agenda, which emphasizes cutting taxes, reducing regulations, and improving the state’s business climate. In addition, the state tax on fuel would be paused and other taxpayer-friendly measures, such as cutting government spending, are called for.

Water quality is critical to the region. What plans do you have to help improve water quality and keep it safe for generations? I support the one-eighth cent sales tax for sewers referendum and I have joined with the county executive and local legislators to continually push for state and federal support to carry out Suffolk’s Comprehensive Water Resource Management Plan.

How can the immigration crisis be addressed at the federal and local levels? President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris must immediately reinstate the border control measures that were put in place during the Trump administration. Gov. Hochul must revoke the sanctuary status for both the state and New York City and send the message that our communities can no longer handle the burden of so many new residents.

Can federal and local officials work together? They can if they recognize the scope of the problem, which government leaders are specifically causing it, and what policies have to be changed.

What can be done about inflation, which some say can be attributed to price gouging? Inflation is a direct result of government spending and policies, not price gouging, which is illegal in this state. The current war on domestic energy is a huge factor. While President Biden approved the Nord Stream pipeline from Russia to the rest of Europe, he canceled the Keystone pipeline here in the U.S., denying Americans a vital energy source. This and other policies caused energy prices to soar, and as a result, the cost of most everything else went up. In addition, the government spending bombs flooded the economy with dollars. Give out trillions in free taxpayer dollars, and the demand for goods and services goes up. When demand goes up, supply goes down. When supply goes down, prices go up — the textbook cause of inflation.

The median cost of renting on Long Island falls between $2,000 and $3,100. How can more affordable housing options be created? Reducing taxes and inflation will make housing more affordable. State and federal funds must also be made available for shovel-ready housing projects that require either new sewers or can be served by expanding existing facilities.

What is your stance on SALT (State and Local Tax Relief)? I believe the SALT deduction should be reinstated. Paying taxes on dollars you need to use to pay other taxes is double taxation and simply not acceptable.

What needs to be done to keep Long Island streets safe from crime? Stop illegal immigration, end the 'Defund the Police' rhetoric, and support the men and women in law enforcement, as well as end cashless bail and give judges the discretion to confine criminals they deem threats to society. Provide district attorneys with the tools they need to do their jobs, such as toughening the laws on Fentanyl and Tranq.

The DWI/DWAI rate is escalating island-wide. What measures can you fight for to address the escalating addiction crisis? I supported the increase in state spending to provide services to those suffering from addiction and mental health issues. A critical step in addressing the addiction crisis is to close our borders to the illegal drugs that are pouring in and sold cheaply to anyone who wants them.

The administration must also get tougher on China, where the raw materials for illicit drugs are made, and Mexico, where they are manufactured and taken into this country. The drug overdose crisis is a national disgrace, and our leaders in Washington and Albany need to listen to our pleas to do something about it. The governor and leaders of the senate and assembly must also agree to toughen the laws on impaired driving, especially as they pertain to cannabis. The police need clearer direction and more resources to determine if a driver is high on something other than alcohol.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you? Work hard and do what’s best for your family and community.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions? My door is open to anyone for help with whatever concern or problem they have. Call me; I’ll call you back.