Focusing her campaign on changing the way funds in the state budget are distributed on Long Island, Democratic candidate for the eighth senatorial district Jeannette Santos said that the biggest recent issue that needs to be addressed on Long Island is the way that money is being managed. In a recent interview with Anton Community Newspapers, Santos said that she hopes her efforts as a senator will help evenly distribute money to schools and taxpayers on Long Island.

"Money should be distributed equally and evenly and I don't think that's being done right now," the candidate said. "The main thing I would focus on is getting our fair share back from Albany." Santos continued to explain that for every four dollars sent up to Albany, Long Island only gets one dollar back. She said that New York City and upstate regions get the most funding from Albany, and that Long Island needs to start receiving an equal amount of that money. Santos added that if the proper amount of funds came down from the state, county taxes would not have to be raised.

Santos stated that local residents are upset about their taxes going up and the Long Island economy should be the biggest concern of local politicians. "I know right now it's a local issue and right now it's not specifically a state issue, but if it's not taken care of as a local issue then it will turn into a state issue," Santos said. "There has been money mismanagement all the way."

Serving as the president of the Western Suffolk BOCES, vice president of the Amityville school board, and vice president of the Nassau/Suffolk school board and the Nassau/Suffolk school board association executive board, Santos explained that there are many school districts in need of help, and without proper funding, they have no hope. Santos believes that a school that is in dire need of financial assistance should be given the state aid they require to operate and educate children.

"By helping them, I don't mean that if the school district is not doing well, close it down and move the children to another district; to me that's not the answer. They need to be helped, not destroyed," Santos explained. "We have to educate our children. Without education there is no future."

Santos said more money should be put into the classroom because that is where the children are. She said all schools need to have qualified teachers in order to help children grow up to be well-educated. Santos added that over the past 40 years, she has dedicated her time to ensuring that children are properly educated and receive the benefit of learning from the finest and most qualified faculty in the most maintained and modernized facilities residents' tax dollars can provide.

According to Santos, serving as the deputy chief commissioner for the department of human services for the Town of Babylon has enabled her to dedicate her efforts toward family services, including the Women's Health Partnership of Suffolk County, senior citizen community services and services for the disabled, helping to raise drug awareness, and the breast cancer coalition.

"I want the people to know that if I am elected, I vow that I will keep my doors and heart open to my constituents. I will make myself very visible, and I will fight for them and not let anybody push me, including my party," Santos said. "I would always make myself available and listen to people's concerns, and would never do anything to hurt my constituents," the candidate added.

Santos, who describes herself more as a people person than a politician, said that the reason she is running for election to public office is because she is very grateful for what this country has done for her and her family. Born in the Dominican Republic, Santos immigrated to the United States as a young child along with her mother and seven siblings.

"The reason I devoted myself to trying to help the people by running for the Senate is because I am very grateful for what this country has done for me and my family. My mother came here with eight children to try to get away from the dictatorship in the Dominican Republic and looking for the American dream, and we are very lucky that we found it. And with every breath in my body I will do everything I can to help the people," Santos stated.

"I go up to Albany and fight for our rights as an ordinary citizen," Santos said, "but sometimes as an average citizen you get a dead ear. As a senator, I feel I will have a better voice and I could do more. Even if I don't win this election and become a senator, I will continue to fight for the people."

A Long Island resident for over 55 years, Santos and her husband Frank live in Amityville. They have three children; Frank Jr., a civil engineer; Melissa, a teacher; and Anthony, an architect. Santos has never before run for public office.