Assembly District 7 race

Incumbent,
Jarett Gandolfo (R)

Serving in his role as assemblyman of the 7^th District since he was elected in 2020, Jarett Gandolfo said the experience “has been an honor” to represent his constituency.

“My experience of working in the Assembly prior to running for office helped me hit the ground running and deliver results for our communities from day one. While there is still much to do, I am proud of what my team and I have accomplished so far,” said Gandolfo.

As assemblyman, Gandolfo co-sponsored the Suffolk County Water Quality Improvement Act, which will help fund critical sewer and wastewater infrastructure expansion to protect our drinking water and the Great South Bay.

Additionally, Gandolfo has supported open space preservation, wetland protection, and the Environmental Protection Fund.

“I’ve fought for and secured additional funding for the CHIPS program, which helps local municipalities repair roads and bridges. I was a leader in the fight to defeat extreme New York State zoning proposals to protect our communities from overdevelopment,” said Gandolfo.

Gandolfo secured funding to help the Bayport-Blue Point School District construct a wellness center in the high school, prioritizing student mental health.

Of the project, Gandolfo said, “This is something I would like to see expanded to more school districts.”

“I have worked hard to do what is right for our district, and I hope my record will earn me support for another term in the Assembly,” said Gandolfo.

Among the top issues facing his constituency in The Suffolk County News’s coverage area, Gandolfo cited:

Lowering the cost of living

“With inflation straining the finances of so many Long Islanders, I am advocating for a number of proposals to help ease the burden. I co-sponsor proposals to cut for gas, personal care products, housekeeping supplies and ready to eat foods, increase Earned Income Tax Credit, and the expansion of childcare assistance for working families,” said Gandolfo.

Continuing to improve infrastructure

“There are still major upgrades that must be made to our local infrastructure, such as coastal resiliency protections and fixing the Oakdale Merge. I will continue to advocate for the funding needed to get these projects done. The Oakdale Merge project is long overdue; however it continues to move in the right direction,” said Gandolfo.

Addressing the Migrant Crisis

“The migrant crisis continues to be a major issue in our state, stressing our systems and costing taxpayers billions of dollars that should be spent elsewhere.  While as a state we cannot do the federal government’s job of securing the border, we can make changes to our policy to stem the flow of migrants to New York. We must end the ‘sanctuary’ policies that incentivize those who illegally cross our borders to come to New York,” said Gandolfo.

Challenger,
Garrett Petersen (D)

“My entire professional career has been about service,” said Garrett Petersen, the challenger for the Assembly District 7 position.

Currently, Petersen serves as a clinician at an OPWDD service agency, providing services for people with autism and other developmental disabilities. 

“I have always put people first, and moving my work to the Assembly, in the broadest sense, is an evolution of what I’ve devoted my life to.  We take care of New York’s most vulnerable residents, and they need a voice in Albany who knows the struggles to get the services and care they deserve,” said Petersen.

Petersen and his wife, Irina, rented in Sayville and eventually bought their home in East Islip approximately ten years ago.

“I’m a product of Long Island schools from first grade, growing up in Central Islip before attending Stony Brook for my BA and Dowling for my Master’s in Education.  I have one child in elementary school and one on the way, and I want to fight to ensure Long Island’s students get the education funding they deserve and then have the ability to actually stay here and raise our next generation,” said Petersen.

Among the top issues facing his constituency in The Suffolk County News’s coverage area, Petersen cited:

Proper funding for state agencies

“As I mentioned before, I work for a state-funded agency.  Our field has had critical staffing shortages for years and we are not getting the funding we need to provide our most in-need citizens what they need to live and thrive.  This is an issue that touches all of us across the state, not just Assembly District 7, but it’s something I think is vitally important to fight for,” said Petersen.

Water quality

“This is a vitally important issue for our district.  My opponent, to his credit, has done a lot of work on this issue, as the environment, locally at least, is one of the few true areas of bipartisan cooperation remaining…I’d like to implement a rebate program to get the remaining underground oil tanks that have been grandfathered in, abandoned and replaced with modern above-ground solutions,” said Petersen.

Housing affordability

“While this is not strictly speaking something that’s handled on the state level, there are a number of things the Assembly can do to support local governments to build housing.  I think we have two choices as Long Islanders: Accept enough development so that our kids can afford to live here, while keeping that development as in-line with our existing communities as much as possible and accepting some change where it’s not, while supporting that development with the proper infrastructure, or stick our heads in the sand and ignore the affordability crisis while our young people keep moving away… encourage big city developers to come in, buy out property, and *actually* build Queens-level density.  I’d rather we go with the former option, so my kids can enjoy the same Long Island upbringing I had,” said Petersen.