Voters Guide: New York State Assembly, District 18: LaMont E. Johnson

LAMONT E. JOHNSON

REPUBLICAN

BACKGROUND:

• Johnson, 50, of Hempstead Village, is a retired village police officer who serves as vice president of the village school board, where he was first elected nine years ago. He also has the Conservative Party endorsement.
• He said his efforts helped turn Hempstead school district, assigned a state monitor, into one of New York’s most improved districts.
• He graduated from Nassau Community College with an associate’s degree in criminal justice.

ISSUES:

• He would allow senior homeowners to apply for a property tax break of at least $1,500 and pay for this by possibly drawing funds from other programs, such as opioid addiction treatment.
• Noting that several struggling school districts are in the 18th Assembly, he wants to garner more money and resources for school districts that lag behind most in graduation and other performance goals.
• Retooling the bail system would be a priority in his efforts to reduce crime. 
• He would boost job options for people with criminal records and those who don’t have college degrees, including lobbying big companies to train and hire them.