Andrew P. Raia, Assembly 12th district

Andrew P. Raia

Republican

BACKGROUND: Raia, 50, of East Northport, a Republican, is also running on the Conservative, Reform and Independence party lines. He is seeking his ninth term. Raia is the ranking minority member on the Health Committee and minority whip. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science at SUNY New Paltz. Raia is a member of the Huntington Lighthouse Preservation Society; Knights of Columbus Father Thomas A. Judge Council in East Northport; and the Sons of Italy Constantino Brumidi Lodge in Deer Park.

ISSUES: Raia said he will continue to focus on the heroin and opioid crisis and MS-13 gang violence. He said the state should consider opening unused wings at the Pilgrim Psychiatric Hospital in Brentwood to help alleviate the lack of treatment beds. “The state could open a wing or two until the $200 million we’ve appropriated for nonprofits trickles down,” Raia said. “They [nonprofits] can’t build beds anyway, and it’s one way to get people help more quickly.” In combating gang violence, Raia said the addition of more resources and the task force is helping, and he will look for more ways to offer gang diversion programs. “I work with everybody and understand my limits as a minority in the Assembly,” Raia said. He said he will team with other legislators on bills to soften the blow if LIPA prevails in its request to significantly reduce its tax assessment on the Northport Power Plant. “It doesn’t just affect Northport,” he said, “it’s a regional issue — there are aging power plants going offline all over the state, so I will work with other legislators and push for it to be handled in the executive budget.”