Assembly District 25 – General Election 2012

★ENDORSED CANDIDATE★

NILY ROZIC – DEM, WFP

Candidate Questionnaire
Age: 26
Occupation: Chief of Staff, Assemblymember Kavanagh
Education: N/A

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Campaign Website
Campaign Finance Filings

Candidate News Links
– Rozic Eyeing Lancman Seat
– Rozic Touts Emily’s List, Labor Support in Bid to Replace Lancman

Nily Rozic is a first generation immigrant from Israel, who believes she can identify with the diversity of the district and its large immigrant population. She is a member of Community Board 8 and of the Hillcrest Jewish Center. Rozic has significant political experience, advancing from being a scheduler to chief of staff in Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh’s office. She demonstrates a strong commitment to reform issues in that capacity. If elected, her top priority is establishing a state campaign finance system with public matching funds modeled on New York City’s. She additionally supports banning the building of campaign war chests enabling candidates to transfer funds from one campaign to another for a different office. While disappointed that an independent redistricting commission was not created for drawing 2012 lines, she would vote for second passage of a constitutional amendment to create one for future redistricting. Rozic also emphasized the importance of making voter registration more open and accessible through government agencies. Other issues that she will focus on include improving voter access for non-English speakers and increasing the minimum wage. Rozic believes she is best qualified to serve given her experience working on legislation in Albany and that her independence will enable her to vote her conscience. Citizens Union believes Rozic will be a passionate voice for good government given her knowledge and experience working on those issues for a reform legislator. We therefore endorse her candidacy.

ABRAHAM FUCHS – REP

Candidate Questionnaire
Age: 56
Occupation: Attorney
Education: N/A Campaign Website

Candidate News Links
– More hats in the ring for 25th Assembly District – Fuchs Enters Race for Lancman’s Seat

Abe Fuchs is a retired postal worker who decided to run for office because he feels that more emphasis needs to be placed on character and vocational training in schools. Reforming the educational system by including character development is his top priority but other issues of importance to Fuchs include taxing the wealthy to provide a tax break to the middle class to enhance the latter’s purchasing power. He also favors allowing hydrofracking with rigorous controls. Concerning government reform issues, Fuchs believes that the arcane state ballot petitioning process needs to be addressed, suggesting that signatories should be able to sign multiple candidates’ petitions. Fuchs opposes the city’s model of a campaign finance system with public matching funds believing that campaign spending is often wasteful and should not be supported by taxpayer funds. Fuchs would not vote for second passage of the constitutional amendment to reform redistricting because he thinks that with the entire legislature voting on all district lines, the self-interest of individual legislators is eliminated. Furthermore, Fuchs thinks that commissions should be reserved for technical topics worthy of in-depth and lengthy consideration by experts, and does not consider drawing district lines such a technical topic. Citizens Union holds different views than Fuchs on critical reform issues and therefore does not endorse him.

JERRY IANNECE – IND

Candidate Questionnaire
Age: 52
Occupation: Attorney
Education: New York University (BA) St. John’s University (JD)

Candidate News Links
– Jerry Iannece Hires Parkside, Picks up Liu’s Backing
– Iannece Optimistic About Assembly Bid

Jerry Iannece currently serves as Chair of Community Board 11 in Queens and maintains his own law practice as a trial attorney. Iannece believes running for assembly is a natural progression stemming from his local activism aimed at fixing his community’s problems. Iannece supports many good government measures and highlights campaign finance reform as one of his top priorities. He thinks the astronomical amount of money in state politics has caused communities to become mistrustful of government and believes that the New York City’s campaign finance laws are significantly better than the state’s. Iannece also supports the second passage of a constitutional amendment to create an independent redistricting commission. On budget reform issues, he wants to increase transparency and provide more power to rank-and-file lawmakers. He supports reestablishing the office of Special Prosecutor in New York to combat corruption in Albany. Beyond reform, Iannece if elected would work to increase the minimum wage and pass the DREAM Act. He feels he can effectively build coalitions in Albany, pointing to his experience in getting a new sewer system in Bayside while on the community board. Iannece has extensive experience in the community and is knowledgeable about policy.. He is a well-rounded candidate who only falls short of earning our preference because of his opponent’s deep demonstrated commitment to reform.

WILLIAM N. GARIFAL, JR. – CON
Has not returned questionnaire
Candidate could not be scheduled for an interview by Citizens Union