Samuel J. Gonzalez, County Legislator, 9th Legislative District

SAMUEL J. GONZALEZ

Democratic

BACKGROUND:

• Gonzalez, 60, was first elected in a special election in March 2019, then won the seat again that November. He also is running on the Working Families Party line.
• He was union president for IBEW local 1430 for eight years.
• He holds union representation and government operations certificates from Rutgers University in 2010, 2011, and 2012.

ISSUES:

• "Priority Number 1," Gonzalez said, was continuing to work to help the homeless and those with substance abuse addictions in his district, citing the creation of a task force that includes officials from the departments of health, labor, as well as police and social services officials.
• He also would help young people for college preparation with grants and through collaborations with school districts and community organizations.
• He would continue community revitalization projects, citing approval for a $1.45 million bus depot at the Brentwood Shopping Center, slated to be built in 2022. He would increase Spanish-language access for all government interactions with residents, citing the creation of a special line on the 311 system on which women can speak with case managers from Hispanic women's organizations about their concerns.

By Olivia Winslow

olivia.winslow@newsday.com@newsollie