New York is holding elections, including for state and municipal offices, on Sept. 12, 2023, and Nov. 7, 2023, respectively. A number of candidates running in these elections completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office.
Below is a selection of responses from the candidates who filled out the survey as of Aug. 22. To read each candidate’s full responses, click his or her name at the bottom of the article.
David Hirsch (R/Conservative Party) is running for New York State Assembly District 27, and the special election is on Sept. 12. Here’s how Hirsch responded to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
“I am very passionate about Crime and Education. I have worked as a consultant in education policy, and have been an advocate for education reform for years. … I am passionate about protecting the Special and Gifted programs, to ensure the brightest kids can achieve their best. I also want to ensure the SHSAT remains in place, to ensure fair placement. I also want to help fix the massive waste in public schools to ensure every dollar is better spent on the students, and improve education in the worst performing districts.
I am also passionate making our neighborhoods safer. I want to see more police and patrols on the street to reduce crime, to put more public lighting to make walking at night safer, and to fix the legislation from Albany that have led to a rise in crime in our state. Business owners should not live in fear, as I hear from many I talk to. People should feel safe walking around at night. …”
Click here to read the rest of Hirsch’s answers.
Martha Rowen (R/Conservative Party) is running for New York City Council District 33, and the general election is on Nov. 7. Here’s how Rowen responded to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
“Our once thriving neighborhoods are suffering the consequences of disastrously misguided policies that denied children the education and socialization they need, decimated small businesses, threw people out of work, exploded the homeless population, and denied New Yorkers our most basic rights and civil liberties.
I am running to bring us back to a healthy civic life, rein in government overreach by limiting the powers of elected and unelected officials, and to institute reforms to keep such an attack on our rights from ever happening again.”
Click here to read the rest of Rowen’s answers.
If you’re a New York candidate or incumbent, click here to take the survey. The survey contains over 30 questions, and you can choose the ones you feel will best represent your views to voters. If you complete the survey, a box with your answers will display on your Ballotpedia profile. Your responses will also populate the information that appears in our mobile app, My Vote Ballotpedia.
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