Rebecca Lonardo, Suffolk Legislator, 17th Legislative District
Rebecca Lonardo. Credit: James Escher
REPUBLICAN
Lonardo, 38, is running on the Republican line. She is seeking her first two-year term in the Legislature.
ISSUES:
- Her top priority is Suffolk County's budget deficit, she said, adding that the county needs to curtail spending rather than continue to raise taxes and fees.
- Keeping county citizens safe is another priority, she said, in particular, stronger measures to combat gang crime and violence.
- Water quality is a top concern. Lonardo said drinking water, waterways and shorelines need proactive efforts to protect them. We cannot afford to wait until contamination occurs, she said.
Joie Tyrrell is a Long Island native and covers education for Newsday, where she has worked since 1998.
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