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An Interview with
Bill Funk, Democratic Candidate for Assemblyman, 12th
District
BACKGROUND
Age 31; married with
one dog. Resident of Massapequa and originally from Oceanside.
Masters in Political Science from C. W. Post and an undergraduate
degree from SUNY at Albany. Executive Director, Corporate Affairs, Off
Track Betting. Former
Legislative aide in Nassau County and Assembly aide (Albany).
THE SUOZZI ADMINISTRATION
He has brought fiscal
stability to Nassau. As a
former County employee for five years, I saw all the problems. However,
he will work his way through the current problems but needs to
re-examine policies and procedures in the County.
CANDIDATE JOE SALADINO
I’m welcoming a
spirited campaign based on the issues. Based on credentials, this is
about representing constituents by hard work and effort. I believe I am
better able to serve the needs of the people.
2004 PRESIDENCY
Howard Dean brought
energy to the Party process. People are responding to that enthusiasm by
making a more
moderate choice with
John Kerry.
PROPERTY TAXES
I am a property tax
payer. The urge to increase taxes in the future should be resisted. I
completely understand why taxes were raised over the past few years due
to prior mismanagement.
IF I WIN: GETTING ALONG WITH THE OYSTER
BAY REPUBLICANS
As a Democrat, to get
anything done when I worked in Albany, I had to work very hard with the
other party. My feeling is simple: if one can “play fair in the
sandbox”, anything can be accomplished.
MASSAPEQUA/FARMINGDALE ISSUES
There are several: (1)
Gang activity in the Preserve and along the Bethpage corridor. We need
to provide schools with the ability to prevent students from presenting
their gang colors. (2) The Bethpage State Parkway corridor needs a
State Park designation
status. This would mean greater protection and help to ensure better
maintenance.
(3) The Department of
Transportation wants to widen Route 107 in Massapequa. I am against
this.
GOVERNOR PATAKI
He’s just there. His
presence was demonstrated well during 911. I wish that he would
demonstrate it on a daily basis.
FAVORITE SPORTS ATHLETE, TV SHOW, BOOK
& ACTRESS
Lance Armstrong, Curb
Your Enthusiasm, Democracy in America (DeTocqueville) and Julia Roberts
CHOICE & DEATH PENALTY
I am pro-choice. New
York State Law satisfies everyone but no one has been executed. Thus; I
am against the death penalty. Requests for the death penalty satisfy
people who demand vengeance.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEEN D’s and R’s in
ALBANY
Senate Republicans have
a strong upstate bias. Democratic Assembly members are pretty much made
up of New York City individuals. Long Island is left out of the mix.
Senate Republicans from Long Island are successful; Democratic
Assembly members are
doing their best. Assemblyman Tom DiNapoli has done a fine job building
a consensus on Long Island.
LIPA
It’s creation was
absolutely needed to take over LILCO. However, they were expected to
operate like a business even though restricted by government regulation.
Their controls need to be re-examined by the State Comptroller. Anything
that can be done to keep rates down should be reviewed and implemented,
if possible.
GOALS (next 1-2
years)
I want to be the
Assemblyman of this district and represent it well and be heard in
Albany. Hopefully, I will be able to get away for a few days with my
wife to Orlando, Florida.
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