Gregory John Fischer, state senate, District 1

Gregory John Fischer

Democratic

BACKGROUND: Fischer, 61, of Calverton, is a consultant to businesses, nonprofits and governments, is running for the Democrat Party line in the 1st Senate District. He lost his bid for the seat to Republican incumbent Kenneth LaValle in 2016. He received  a bachelor’s degree from SUNY New Paltz in 1980 and an MBA in operations management from the University at Albany in 1982. He also has an associate degree in general management from City University of New York. Hepreviously ran for Riverhead Town supervisor, councilman and assessor, as well as the Riverhead school board. Fischer has four children.

ISSUES: Fischer, citing a rising cost of living and flat wages, said he believes the economy is the number one concern in the state. “The most important issue far and away is that the New York State economy is failing and it’s failing quickly,” he said. What is required to create high paying jobs, Fischer said, is “the reindustrialization of the state.” He has floated an economic development plan that hinges on building an underground train system powered by magnetic levitation or maglev technology. The ambitious plan would be paid for with federal bonds and run under federal right-of-ways from Ronkonkoma to Quebec, Canada. He envisions these high-speed trains connecting commuters between communities with affordable real estate and economic hubs for jobs. “I want this to be a New Deal type of construction,” he said. He also favors a cross-Sound tunnel and double-decking the Long Island Expressway to alleviate traffic congestion. Fischer said if elected he would not necessarily caucus with other Senate Democrats and said his campaign hasn’t received money from local Democratic committees. “I don’t owe the Democrats anything,” he said. Fischer supports public financing of elections, 12-year term limits for state senators and ending Common Core and standardized testing mandates for students in grades three through eight.

By Vera Chinese

vera.chinese@newsday.com@VeraChinese

Vera Chinese joined Newsday in 2017 after working as an editor for the East End lifestyle publication northforker and a general assignment reporter for the New York Daily News.