Assembly District 24
Auburndale, Bayside, Bayside Hills, Bellerose, Douglaston, Floral Park, Fresh Meadows, Glen Oaks, Hollis, Hollis Hills, Holliswood, Jamaica Estates, Little Neck, New Hyde Park, Queens Village
Name: Timothy Furey
Age: 29
Party Affiliation: Republican
Occupation: International finance/business development professional
Decision To Run: Since my early days as a student at Cardozo High School, I dreamed of one day representing my community in the legislature. After witnessing the very same politicians who have run this once great state into the ground now claiming to be champions of reform… it was just too much to sit by waiting for the “right time.” We need fresh, independent leaders to get New York moving in the right direction again, and we need it now.
Major Issues: Residents within the 24th Assembly District and throughout Queens are deeply concerned with the economy and the ridiculous increases in the cost of living that we’ve experienced over the last few years. The New York economy is hemorrhaging jobs and has been doing so well before the global recession began. Yet at a time when wages are steady or decreasing and prices of consumer goods are starting to fall, we continue to see utility rates, water rates and transportation costs (via the MTA) rising. There is a fundamental imbalance here that needs to be addressed.
Top Priorities: Constituent services within the 24th Assembly District have been subpar by any standard. Speak with most people who have reached out to Assemblymember David Weprin’s office for help and the conversation usually ends with “… and then I called Padavan.” Constituents must be assured that they have an Assemblymember who is responsive to their needs, has an office set up to efficiently respond, and more importantly: act. We are lucky to have Senator Padavan and Councilmember Halloran who both have exemplary constituent service records. I will work to set up my office to provide the same level of service. The residents of the 24th Assembly District deserve no less.
Name: David I. Weprin
Age: 54
Party Affiliation: Democrat, also running on Independent and Working Families Party lines
Occupation: New York State Assemblymember; former Chair New York City Council Committee on Finance; attorney, investment banker
Decision To Run: I seek re-election to a full term as the voters overwhelmingly found merit in my candidacy in the special election this past midwinter. I always stood for a fiscally responsible government; I continue to follow that standard I established as Chair of the Council’s Finance Committee, as a tireless advocate for responsible public spending and partner with those in and out of government to strengthen fiscal responsibility
Major Issues: While much of the outside focus on Albany revolved around the budget, that impasse did not prevent the passage of important legislation that helped people weather the economic storm too many of us face. The Assembly passed legislation including my efforts to halt annual double digit increases in water bills, keep more seniors in their homes, maintain free MetroCards for our students and expand health insurance policies to protect those with autism. Our schools and transportation remain keys areas that we need to strengthen and reverse some recent setbacks that I fought against.
Top Priority: The impasse in Albany that affected us all was derived not just from the state of the economy, but from the state of politics, which played a role as it impacted the ability of two institutions (the State Senate and the Executive Branch) to focus full-time on governing. In the Assembly, I am proud that we remained able to consistently forge coalitions to deliver the votes needed to pass the budget and, before that, difficult budget extenders. If re-elected, I plan to focus on structural reforms.
