Name: Robert Beltrani
Age: 47
Party Affiliation: Republican
Money Raised Thus Far: N/A
Background: Beltrani currently lives in Jackson Heights with his wife and four children. After graduating Brooklyn Law School in 1988, Beltrani worked as a trial attorney and in private practice for a number of years. Currently, he is the Administrative Judge for the New York State Division of Parole.
Why did you decide to run in the special election? “The people in the 13th Senate District deserve better,” Beltrani said, referring to Monserrate and Peralta. Beltrani said that the voters cannot send Monserrate back to Albany after his behavior this year.
“The chaos that will ensue will take away from the important work that needs to be done, the tough decisions that have to be made.”
Beltrani also had some harsh words for Peralta, who he said was being investigated for giving funding to a nonprofit organization that did not exist and for suspect campaign finance filings.
What is the top reason voters should choose you?
“I don’t bring the circus of corruption and scandal with me,” Beltrani said. “I will bring integrity and commitment to the job.” He also mentioned fighting for better schools and benefits for small businesses as two issues he would tackle.
The winner of the election will be thrust right into the budget negotiations. What would be your number one priority?
“We have a budget problem that has never been seen before and that will actually get worse,” Beltrani said. “We need to have people in New York that are focused on the budget and the fiscal problems of the state.”
Beltrani said his first priority in terms of the budget would be making sure that the government gets spending under control.
