Meet The Candidates: Judy Griffin Seeks 3rd Term Assembly District 21

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY — As the days dwindle until Election Day, Patch has a look at one of the candidates, Assemblywoman Judy Griffin.

Name

Judy A. Griffin

Campaign website

https://www.griffinforassembly...

City or town of residence

Rockville Centre

Office sought

State Assembly, District 21

Party affiliation

Democratic

Education

Bachelor of Science, Business Economics from SUNY Oneonta

Occupation

Full-Time Assemblywoman (4 years).

Family

I have lived in Rockville Centre with my husband Mike for almost 30 years. We have four grown children 22, 25, 28, 30, graduate of South Side High School, a son-in-law, and proudly welcomed our first granddaughter into the world this year.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

None.

Age

59.

Previous public office, appointive or elective

I have been elected as the Assemblywoman for 2 terms, but never served in public office before that time.

Why are you seeking this office?

I first ran for State Assembly in 2018 because I felt that the 8 year incumbent (and once again my opponent), Brian Curran, was not listening to all the voices of our communities, lacked engagement and was not delivering on our diverse district’s many important needs. After I won and took office in 2019, I was able to share the moderate voice of the 21st District with Albany and deliver mightily. In less than four years in office, I allocated millions of dollars of funding to police departments, fire departments, schools, libraries, local municipalities, veteran halls, and non-for profit organizations. I'm really proud of the work I've done to give Long Island a strong, moderate voice at the table in Albany while delivering more of our hard-earned dollars back home. My record is built on listening first, then delivering results, and I want to continue that work on the issues that matter most to our communities.

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

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

I have been endorsed by 14 major law enforcement organizations because I have accomplished passing effective rollbacks and revisions to bail reform - including increasing discretion for judges. I have worked closely with law enforcement to advance policies that enhance safety in our criminal justice system while opposing policies that go too far. In addition to my strong partnership with law enforcement, I am endorsed by well over 30 unions and statewide organizations. I am very committed to continuing my work to advance policies that enable workers to provide for their families while being respected and protected at their job.

The opponent I beat in 2018, Brian Curran, served 8 years in Albany and had no accomplishments to show for it. Now working as an assistant village attorney in Lynbrook, Brian wants to return to Albany - fully aware he will be inept at accomplishing anything he promises. Brian Curran certainly did not deliver for the 21st District, but his views on important issues are very concerning and not in sync with the majority of our district. Brian Curran would vote to ban abortion and cruelly require forced ultrasounds (like in Mississippi), opposed both marriage equality and toughening our hate crimes laws, actually voted no on legislation that prevented domestic abusers from having firearms, voting against labor earning prevailing wages for public works projects and perpetuates an extreme belief that our public schools are a “socialist” conspiracy. On the other hand, I have sponsored and passed numerous common sense gun crime laws to help our police and keep our schools safe, expanded funding for domestic violence survivors, and have worked to make sure all the children of our diverse district feel safe and protected.

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

N/A

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

-Supporting Police & First Responders: to keep families safe crime and combat opioid addiction, which includes supporting those recovering and their families.
-Expanding Mental Healthcare: Advocating for more of the funding I have secured to address the mental health of our students, families, veterans and first responders.
-Crime Victim & Trauma Survivor Recovery Centers: I will advocate for policies that put victims of crime and their families first, and will advance my legislation to establish Victim Recovery Centers throughout the state.
-More Universal Pre-K for Long Island: I will continue advocating for record funding for suburban public schools and to expand the resources for universal pre-K and our special education learners.
-Lowering Families’ Costs: making Long island more affordable and easing the burden on senior citizens by cutting property taxes (like we did this year for seniors and those that are disabled), employing ways to change the reliance on property values for school taxes, reforming our utilities, finding ways the state can support communities in developing affordable housing that fits our neighborhoods, and supporting local small businesses.
-Environmental Projects & Green Jobs: Creating jobs by taking impactful measures to mitigate flooding, replenish our shores, modernize our water infrastructure and ensure safer drinking water once we pass the Environmental Bond Act on the ballot this November.

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

Would you seek to overturn New York's abortion law protecting medical choices for women 7+ months pregnant?

1. Bringing home State funding for major projects in our District this year: I allocated $550,000 for the Village of Rockville Centre to begin building an all-inclusive playground for children of all physical abilities that will be open to all local residents. I allocated $450,000 in additional State funding to build a Mental Health & Wellness Facility at both Baldwin Middle School and at the Schubert School for elementary learners. I was also able to allocate essential funding to the Family & Children's Association in Nassau, which offers impactful services in opioid addiction and recovery, as well as mental health and suicide prevention for local residents and families.
2. In 2019, I introduced and passed into New York State law a ban on schools trying to arm teachers and asking them to protect their own classroom. That’s a job for trained professionals: our brave police, retired officers, and licensed security. That’s why every year since I have worked to increase funding for school security infrastructure and provide more funding to local police.
3. In both 2020 and 2022, I worked successfully with my colleagues and Albany leadership to secure impactful rollbacks and revisions sought by law enforcement and prosecutors to both Bail Reform and recent Criminal Justice initiatives. These changes enhanced safety while still advancing the goal of equal justice for all. Everyone deserves to feel safe and deserve equal justice under the law.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

My mother gave me words to live by: "to show up in life, to honor your feelings, to take care of yourself, to be generous with others in acts of kindness, love, support, and be true to your word." I am grateful for my mom, that she is still with us and her words of wisdom. I have tried to instill the same message in my children and will continue it with my grandchildren.

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

I am proud to work full-time to represent the diverse 21st Assembly District, to be accessible to my constituents, listen to them on important matters in their community, partner with our school districts, provide vital assistance whenever I can, and offer support to our most vulnerable neighbors. My record, integrity, work ethic, and endorsements convey why I am the only one to fight for and deliver for the constituents of the 21st District in this race.