Andrew R. Garbarino, Assembly, 7th District

ANDREW R. GARBARINO

Republican

BACKGROUND: Garbarino, 34, of Bayport, is seeking his fourth term in office. He is a lawyer at the family law firm in Sayville. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history and classical humanities from George Washington University, and earned his law degree from Hofstra University School of Law. He is a member of the Rotary Club and Knights of Columbus, and is counsel for the Captain Merrill H. Masin and Graham D. Masin Foundation, which awards more than $25,000 in scholarships a year to local high school students. Garbarino is running on the Republican, Conservative, Independence, Reform and Women’s Equality party lines.

ISSUES: Real property taxes are the biggest thing on people’s minds, he said, so he would like to make the state’s 2 percent property tax cap permanent when it comes up for renewal. “It has helped on Long Island but we need to do more to fast-track growth here to help property taxes go down, or offer mandate relief,” Garbarino said. He also will seek more funding to increase the number of beds to help with drug treatment programs, and work for more programs to help people from getting affected, such as the new pharmacy drug take-back program, where people can drop off unused drugs. He said he will continue to focus on infrastructure repairs for sewers and septic to protect water quality and lessen nitrogen going into Great South Bay, and road work such as fixing traffic backups at the Oakdale Merge on Sunrise Highway. “We’re there to make sure schools are funded and roads are maintained,” he said. “Our No. 1 priority is to make sure people can enjoy their lives.”