SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — It's Election Day Tuesday, and Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming, Democrat, and GOP candidate Nick LaLota are waging a tight race to win New York State's 1st Congressional District seat vacated by Rep. Lee Zeldin, who is running to unseat incumbent New York State Governor Kathy Hotchul
After redistricting, New York's 1st Congressional District includes both the North and South Forks, Riverhead, the northern part of Brookhaven, all of Smithtown, and all of Huntington.
Ahead of the election, Patch asked candidates in contested races to answer questions about their campaigns. Here are their answers, slightly edited for clarity.
City or town of residence
Noyac
Office sought
The US House of Representatives NY-01
Party membership
Democrat
Education
Degree from Hunter College. University of Virginia School of Law
Occupation
Suffolk County Legislature
Family
Husband Bob and Shawn Jai
Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
No
Age
62
Previous public office, appointed or elected
I have been a Suffolk County legislator since 2016 and was on the Southampton Town Board from 2010 to 2015.
Why are you looking for this office?
I am running for Congress to ensure that every child, regardless of race, religion, or gender, has the opportunity to succeed and live the American Dream. As an established local legislator, I have delivered real results for Long Island families time and time again. I will use this experience and knowledge to bring federal dollars back home to improve the quality of life in our community and put money in the pockets of working families.
What are the main differences between you and other candidates seeking this position?
As an established local legislator, I have delivered results for Long Island families time and time again. I will use my experience to secure federal dollars to improve our community's quality of life, protect our environment and local economy, and put money in the pockets of working families.
What sets me apart from my opponent is that voters trust me to protect and defend fundamental American freedoms while paying attention to the needs and concerns of Long Island families, such as removing the cap on state and local tax deductions. My success as a county legislator and growing support from local leaders allows me to represent all Long Islanders, not just those who voted for me.
What other issues do you plan to address during your campaign?
If elected to Congress, I will address the fundamental American freedoms at stake in NY-01. Women's health care and decisions, voter protection, and the right to safe communities are paramount to the success of our democracy. As a former sex crimes prosecutor, I am acutely aware of the dangers to women and doctors and health care providers posed by the Dobbs decision, and I would make codification of Roe's protections a top priority. We must also stop the trend of states making it harder to vote and ensure that those in office who wish to disenfranchise voters are not re-elected. And finally, I know firsthand how important the police are to keeping our communities safe. With crime rates well below the national average, Suffolk County is still one of the safest places in the country to live. As a county legislator, I have worked to ensure our police have the resources they need to keep crime rates low, and in Congress I will do the same.
What past accomplishments would you cite as proof that you can handle this job?
Highlights of my environmental work in the Legislature include a program to develop long-term planning around coastal resilience in response to the increasing impacts of climate change, including localized flooding, coastal erosion and loss of critical wetlands, for proactive investments to protect against climate change impacts and develop guidelines and best practices for nature-based solutions. At the same time, I have worked to reduce fossil fuel emissions that contribute to climate change. My team and I have focused on developing a reliable and cost-effective public transport system, developed maps to promote private investment in medium to large-scale solar development without negatively impacting green space and wildlife, and continue to support initiatives energy efficiency in government , and expanded renewable energy generation from our electricity company, which currently relies on fossil fuels 90 percent for power generation. I recently supported the creation of a renewable energy jobs task force that will advance Long Island's clean energy transition while creating and supporting good-paying union jobs. I have been a leading voice on a task force that has devised and implemented the first health code reform in decades to combat nitrification degradation caused by outdated wastewater policy, and I have advocated for environmental justice in the waste facility space, as well as providing public water options to homes where perfluorinated compounds have contaminated groundwater.
What is the best advice someone has ever given you?
Be your authentic self
