Republican David Bressler is running for the 26th Assembly District this year with a goal for New Yorkers—putting more money in their pockets.
“I don’t want more money,” he said. “I made my living as an executive in a food company.”
Bressler, a businessman, is running against State Assemblymember Ed Braunstein (D-Auburndale, Bay Terrace, Bayside, Bayside Hills, Broadway-Flushing, Douglaston, Floral Park, Glen Oaks, Little Neck, New Hyde Park, North Shore Towers, Oakland Gardens, Whitestone). He ran a campaign against Braunstein in 2016 until he dropped it after his petition signatures were challenged.
Now, with Queens Village Republican Club President Philip Orenstein as his campaign manager, Bressler is determined to campaign and, maybe, become the district’s State Assemblyman.
Bressler stressed he is not interested in targeting Braunstein and favors focusing on issues. From reducing taxes to eliminate wasteful spending, he wants to redefine good governance in Albany.
If elected, Bressler desires to be part of the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee to review the budget process. In fact, he carries a red folder with notes to ensure he is prepared to talk about these issues and cited figures from both the city and state budgets.
“I want to be part of this budget from the start to the finish. I want my name to be on that,” he said.
One topic in his platform was school safety. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced last month the removal of NYPD officers because of the presence of weapons in schools. In contrast, Bressler favored placing and training former military or police personnel in schools.
“Nothing is more important than the safety of children, so that is definitely wise spending,” he said.
Another matter Bressler raised was responsible government spending. He raised questions with the allocated amount for NYCHA and highlighted the financial disputes between the city and state over the agency.
“Is [funding] really helping improve housing and conditions in housing? I’m totally for that, but I’m for it actually going to the people to improve the conditions they live,” he said.
He also brought up the borough’s infrastructure and referred to President Donald Trump’s infrastructure proposal for the nation as an example of what to do. He elaborated that there could be a solution to traffic woes he experiences when traveling south on the Cross Island Parkway going south to the Long Island Expressway.
“If we could get the money to the right projects, our bridges, our roads, our highways, our traffic lights, we could better in my area and all around the city and state,” Bressler said.
Bressler cited his experience as a manager of a gated community called the Bay Club as one example of his accountability to others. Communication is what he values the most and suggested town halls would become a common occurrence in elected.
The Whitestone native also discussed other affordability issues. He heard from residents in the Bay Club that property taxes were too high. He also favored creating incentives for small business owners to keep them in Queens with the recent GOP tax plan as a template.
Immigration is an ever-growing issue in Albany with the assembly passing a “sanctuary state” bill last year to protect undocumented immigrants. Bressler noted Republicans are not against immigrants as they view the United States as a country of immigrants. Essential to this was following the nation’s laws to immigration that he stressed to fairness to the immigration process.
Bressler added that he is not interested in becoming a career politician and viewed six years as enough to make change.
“If we can’t accomplish something in six years, then there’s something wrong,” Bressler said.
There is the likelihood, if Bressler wins, he will work with various Democratic lawmakers. The Bay Terrance resident said, while he would stick to his beliefs, he is open to ideas from across the political aisle.
“If there’s a Democrat that has an idea that I feel is good and if I present an idea to a Democrat, that’s utopia in working a good government,” said Bressler. “That’s what we need more of [now].”
On the campaign trail, the businessman heard from Democratic voters who are considering a vote for him over issues such as taxes. He believed such people are bothered by politics in Albany.
“Even if you’re a Democrat, why wouldn’t you want to give a guy like me, who is honest and hardworking, a chance?” he said.
The general election is November 6.
