Rockaway native Gerald Sullivan has entered the race for the 23rd Assembly District seat, currently occupied by Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer, a Democrat who has held the seat for 18 years and is considering a run for borough president.“I’m a family man with family concerns,” said the Republican from Breezy Point, who is ready to combat what he believes is a “lack of transparency” in the state Legislature, particularly in the Assembly.
The 41-year-old father of two first decided to run for the seat in November after a discussion with members of the Rockaway Republican Club regarding the upcoming presidential election. “I thought it would be in our best interests to try and back local candidates as opposed to backing a presidential candidate, when the person that we’re probably going to back isn’t going to win New York State, so I thought we had to be more active on the local level.”
But Sullivan has always had aspirations to run for public office. As a resident of a south Queens neighborhood and someone who drives down Woodhaven Boulevard in Ozone Park on a daily basis, Sullivan has seen what he deems neglect by the state government. In Ozone Park particularly, “The quality of life fell by the wayside,” he said.
Graffiti covers the exterior of buildings and the area looks ignored. “I don’t think that that’s the way people should have to live, coming out their door and walking down a main thoroughfare and seeing the amount of graffiti that’s down there,” he said. “I don’t think a lot of the local issues are being addressed. I think a lot of the funding that is given to each Assembly person just doesn’t seem to make it back.”
Insufficient education facilities and poor transportation options are of particular concern for the residents of southern Queens, whose options are limited, especially those in Broad Channel and the Rockaways, according to Sullivan.
“The school system in New York City is so twisted and turned that you don’t even know the school you’re sending your child to.” And, Sullivan added, there aren’t enough schools, especially with the recent development boom in the Rockaways.
This is the result of poor planning, by the city and state, according to the candidate. “They gave out the permits to build these homes, but they didn’t prepare any infrastructure to handle the new (wave) of people.”
In addition to this, “Albany allowed the city to take control of the public schools,” Sullivan said. “I just don’t understand: there’s no responsibility on anybody’s part.” The state government must be prepared to face consequences for the decisions it makes, he added.
The constituents he hopes to represent are also concerned about the state Legislature’s fiscal responsibility and ability to produce a balanced budget. “They want their government to operate the same way they operate their families. They want their government to take responsibility for (its) actions.”
Considering these all to be non-partisan issues — or issues that cross party lines — Sullivan doesn’t believe his affiliation with the Republican party will damage his chances of winning a primarily Democrat-voting population. “I don’t think that on a level such as this people differ in the way they think: they want the best for their families.” He added that he would not be bound to any party. “I’m an independent thinker,” and the interests of those residing in the 23rd Assembly District are his primary concerns.
The state government’s problem, according to Sullivan, is that it is reactionary. “It doesn’t have any foresight as to what’s going on in the economy or the state needs, for that matter.”
Meanwhile, he said, the main interest of the legislative body should be caring for the people, and that is what he intends to bring to office, should he be elected in November 2008.
