New York’s 5th Congressional District includes most of southeast Queens, including Cambria Heights, Edgemere, Far Rockaway, Hollis, Jamaica, Laurelton, Richmond Hill, Queens Village, Rosedale, Saint Albans, Springfield Gardens, South Ozone Park, the Rockaways, parts of Nassau County, as well as John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Name: Joseph Marthone
Party: Democrat
Personal Info: Marthone attended Springfield Gardens High School.He then went on to earn his associate degree in media relations from Queensborough Community College, and his bachelor’s degree from Queens College, City University of New York in accounting, taxation and finance.
Issues/Platforms:
• Business growth and jobs
• Education and training
• Energy independence and the environment
• Equality and civil rights
• Fiscal responsibility
Name: Gregory Meeks
Party: Democrat
Current Position: Congressmember in New York’s 6th District.
Personal Info: Meeks earned his bachelor’s degree at Adelphi University and he received his law degree from Howard University. He is a member of the Allen AME Church in St. Albans and is married to Simone-Marie Meeks. He has three daughters – Ebony, Aja, and Nia and resides in St. Albans.
Issues/Platforms:
• The federal budget
• Homeland security
• Education
• Financial industry reform
• International trade
• Jobs and the economy
• Housing
• Health care
• Transportation
• Social Security
Name: Mike Scala
Party: Democrat
Personal Info: Scala was born and raised in Rosedale, where he has lived most of his life. He graduated from Polytechnic Institute of New York University with a bachelor’s degree in computer science. He recently completed his final year of study at Brooklyn Law School, where he obtained a Juris Doctor degree. During school, he worked for the legal department of New York State United Teachers, where he helped defend teachers facing discrimination.
Issues: Scala is running for Congress because he believes the country need stronger leaders fighting for everyday Americans. He supports President Obama and recognizes that he needs more support from his own party.
Platforms: The top priority should be job creation, Scala said, with one in seven New Yorkers out of work. In regards to education, Scala believes No Child Left Behind does not work. He also thinks the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act vastly improves the health care system and should not be repealed. When speaking about immigration, Scala said he believes the country needs to strengthen its borders, but thinks immigrants already in the country that are in good standing should be granted a humane path to citizenship.
Name: Allan W. Jennings, Jr.
Party: Democrat
Current Position: Community activitist and former New York City Councilmember
**No other information available
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