Meet The Candidate: Andrew Piddoubny For State Senate

LONG ISLAND, NY — Long Island residents will be heading to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Ahead of Election Day, Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaign — and the results will be published as candidate profiles in the days leading up to the vote.

Andrew Piddoubny, 40, is running to represent New York State Senate District 5 on the Democratic line against challenger and incumbent Steven Rhoads on the Republican line.

District 5 includes parts of Nassau County, such as Bellmore, Bethpage, East Meadow, Hicksville, Levittown, Merrick, North Bellmore, North Merrick, Old Bethpage, Plainedge, Plainview, Seaford, South Farmingdale, Wantagh, and Westbury.

Name - Andrew Piddoubny

How old will you be as of Election Day? - 40

Does your campaign have a website? - andrewfornysenate.com

What city or town do you live in? - Wantagh in the Town of Hempstead.

What office are you seeking?

NYS Senate

If you are running in a district, you can specify the district here.

5th District

Party affiliation.

Democrat

Education

B.A. SUNY Stony Brook; J.D. St. John's University School of Law

What is your occupation?

Attorney

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.

I have a wife and two-year-old twin boys.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

Just me. I am a Law Clerk to a New York State Supreme Court Justice.

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

No.

Now we'd like to ask a few questions about your reasons for running for election and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you seeking this office?

I have volunteered on other people's campaigns in the past and felt that it was my time to try and give back to my community and help serve the public. I know that many in my district are struggling with rising costs and being able to afford to stay and raise their families here. I want to try to help by lowering costs and get the government back to its duty to help those it serves.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing constituents is: affordability.

What needs to be done to address water quality issues on LI? -

Addressing Long Island’s water quality issues requires a multifaceted approach that includes cleaning up the legacy contamination from Northrop Grumman, the modernization of aging wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and the reduction of nitrogen and runoff. At the same time, we need stronger oversight of polluters, sustained investment in groundwater protection, and greater support for innovative solutions that improve water quality while preserving affordability for residents.

What do you think can be done to help improve our infrastructure, highways, etc.?

Long Island's transportation infrastructure is critical to our economy and quality of life, however, our roads and transit corridors are aging, congested, and vulnerable to extreme weather. New York State should increase investment in highway repairs, modernize traffic management systems, and accelerate rehabilitation projects. By making strategic investments today, we can improve safety, reduce commute times, support economic growth, and ensure Long Island's transportation network meets the needs of future generations.

How would you plan to help local business owners, who are struggling because of high rents, inflation and labor shortages?

Small businesses are the backbone of New York's economy, but many are struggling under the weight of rising rents, inflation, labor shortages, and increasing operating costs. New York State should provide targeted tax relief for small businesses, expand access to low-interest loans and grants, invest in workforce development and skilled trades programs, and reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens.

We must also support efforts to revitalize downtowns, increase commercial affordability, and help businesses attract and retain workers. When small businesses succeed, they create jobs, strengthen local communities, and drive economic growth across Long Island and throughout New York.

How are federal issues impacting local government?

Long Island communities are increasingly affected by federal decisions on immigration, infrastructure funding, environmental regulation, healthcare, and economic policy. On Long Island, we are currently dealing with rising costs driven by inflation and supply chain disruptions that are a direct result of the current administration's tariffs and war of choice with Iran. Additionally, the New York State Health Department has estimated that the Big Beautiful Bill will cause over 1.5 million New Yorkers to lose health care coverage because of the law's Medicaid and Essential Plan changes. These federal policies will require local governments to dedicate resources to issues that extend beyond their traditional responsibilities.

What is your stance on how ICE enforcement has impacted local communities?

I believe that ICE enforcement has had a negative impact on local communities. Although they are required by federal law to identify themselves as soon as it is practical to do so, ICE agents wear masks and have been reported to be unbadged and fail to identify themselves during stops and arrests.

Communities, especially those with a strong immigrant population, have reported economic and educational disruption as people are less willing to visit shopping centers and send their children to school. ICE enforcement practices on Long Island have also eroded public trust in law enforcement and made residents less willing to report crimes and cooperate with investigations.

A safer and stronger Long Island depends on policies that protect public safety while simultaneously protecting public trust.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidate seeking this post?

The major differences between me and the other candidate seeking this post are what we would be able to accomplish in office. New York State has a Democratic majority in both the State Senate and Assembly, and thus as a Democrat caucusing with the majority, I would be able to secure funding and get bills passed that my opponent would be unable to deliver.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

The big issue I plan to address is affordability. I want to see an expansion of Universal Childcare that ensures that Long Island gets its fair share of State funding to expand hours on par with other districts and that delivers a program that actually helps working families without them having to supplement the program with before and after care.

I also want to make sure that New Yorkers do not overpay for their utilities and insurance costs, where companies can make three times the profit here that they do in other states.

I also want to tackle our housing crisis by expanding the amount of senior housing that we have available in the district so that our seniors can still remain in the communities that they have built and love while freeing up housing for young families looking to get their start in the district.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I am the immediate past president of the Ukrainian American Bar Association, which is a national organization comprised of attorneys of Ukrainian descent. I have also spent the majority of my career as a Law Clerk to Supreme Court Justices, which has required me to settle disputes between contentious litigants by helping them find common ground. I will bring that same experience to Albany by working across the aisle with my colleagues to pass legislation to benefit New York State.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am currently raising a family in the district and understand the struggles that people feel trying to make ends meet each month. I am running to create a better quality of life for my friends, family, and neighbors.

What is the best advice anyone has ever given you and why?

I believe that it was something to the effect of that you cannot change that which you do not confront. It is good advice because we cannot change our situation without getting out of our comfort zone and taking on the big challenges that impact our lives. New York is currently facing some stark obstacles and difficult choices for how to deal with them. Although it will be difficult, we must confront them to create a better life for ourselves and the future generations.