Candidate Profile: Andrew Raia For Huntington Town Clerk

TOWN OF HUNTINGTON, NY — Town of Huntington voters will decide their next town clerk on Nov. 7.

Republican incumbent Andrew Raia will look to defend his seat against Democratic challenger Linda Davis Valdez.

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

Here are the responses for those who participated. The answers have been lightly edited for clarity.

Name

Andrew P. Raia

How old will you be as of Election Day?

55

Does your campaign have a website? If so, include the URL here.

https://huntingtongop.org

What city or town do you live in?

East Northport

What office are you seeking?

Re-election as Huntington Town Clerk

If you are running in a district, you can specify the district here.

Town of Huntington

Party affiliation.

Republican Party, also endorsed by the Conservative Party

Education.

BA in Political Science from SUNY New Paltz

What is your occupation?

Huntington Town Clerk, 2020-present

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.

My mother, Jo-Ann Raia, served as the longest-serving Town Clerk in Huntington’s history, who held this position for 38 years (she would kill me if I revealed her age, lol). I also have a sister named Diane, who works in the court system and lives in Huntington with my mother.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

Please refer to question 11.

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

I’ve been proud to be elected 10 times to represent the residents of the Town of Huntington, serving as a New York State Assemblyman from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2019. I have been the Huntington Town Clerk since January 1, 2020.

Now we'd like to ask a few questions about your reasons for running and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you seeking this office?

Having grown up learning and working in and around the Town Clerk’s office as a child, I’ve always strived to become Town Clerk, because the Town Clerk’s office is the purest form of public service. There is no policymaking or voting, your job is to deliver efficient and responsive services to residents 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is \_\_\_, and this is what I intend to do about it.

As the Town Clerk’s office does not deal with policy and political issues, and as I am the keeper of your most vital records, including your child’s birth certificate, parent’s death certificate, and your marriage license, the most important aspect of my office is protecting your identity.

What needs to be done to address water quality issues on LI?

Although I am currently not a policymaker, I had the honor of running with the endorsement of several prominent environmental organizations during my tenure as a New York State Assemblyman.

What do you think can be done to help improve our infrastructure, highways, etc?

As the Town Clerk does not have a vote on budgetary issues, I will leave this question up to the policymakers.

How would you plan to help local business owners, who are struggling because of high rents, inflation and labor shortages?

As the Town Clerk does not have a vote on budgetary issues, I will leave this question up to the policymakers.

What is your stance on the current migrant situation affecting New York? And migrants were to be directed to shelters on Long Island, how would you prepare/plan for that?

As the Town Clerk does not have a vote on budgetary issues, I will leave this question up to the policymakers.

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

I have 42 years of experience learning and working in and around the Town Clerk’s office. As a former NYS Assemblyman, I sponsored numerous laws that directly impact the Town Clerk’s office. Working alongside the previous Town Clerk for 38 years and the past 4 years as the current Town Clerk, I have a unique understanding of the office, as experience is the most important aspect when it comes to protecting your identity.

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

I am very proud of my record of accomplishments over the past 4 years, including keeping my office fully functional throughout the entire COVID-19 pandemic, voluntarily reducing my budget each of the past three years, expanding services available online, increasing access to the Jo-Ann Raia Records Center and Archives for our disabled community, and maintaining the toughest security measures to protect your identity.

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

Continuing to maintain the reputation of the Town Clerk’s office as one of the most efficient and responsive offices in local government, while increasing access for online capabilities.

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

Having been elected by the residents of Huntington 10 times, and also being the incumbent office holder, as experience is paramount to running the Town Clerk’s office.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

The best advice I ever received was to listen to both sides of an issue before making a final decision.

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

I’ve been blessed to have been elected 10 times to represent Huntington’s residents. When it comes to protecting your most vital records, experience matters. I am honored to be the only Town candidate to be endorsed by all 8 police unions, and I was also endorsed by the Long Island Federation of Labor AFL-CIO and it’s over 160 affiliates. I am proud of what my team has accomplished over the past four years, and I humbly ask for your vote.