Jim Buonagura, a political newcomer who is running on the Democratic and Liberal Party lines, is seeking election to the 15th Assembly District (A.D.). A resident of Hicksville, 28-year-old Buonagura said he decided to run because he believes there is a need for change in state government.

Buonagura is a lifelong resident of Nassau County and the district he hopes to represent. Prior to graduating from Bethpage High School in 1992 he enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve and was honorably discharged in May 1993. After returning home, Buonagura went to work in the security industry. He left for a short time to train as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for a private ambulance company, but has since returned to the security industry and is currently working at Securitas. In addition, Buonagura is working toward a bachelor's degree in American government and public administration at Empire State College. He is scheduled to graduate in 2003.

Buonagura is a member of the Knights of Columbus and a parishioner of St. Ignatius Loyola R.C. Church in Hicksville. In 1996, he became an auxiliary police officer for the Nassau County Police Department. He has worked to discourage youths from loitering in parks and playgrounds and has worked to avert vandalism, noise pollution and underage drinking in our communities. In 1999, Buonagura decided to take his involvement a step further and volunteered as an EMT through the Auxiliary Police Program.

Buonagura, whose mother ran for a seat in the 14th A.D. against Marc Herbst in 1998, said his passion for politics began in 1996 after interning at the Board of Elections. "I started going to conventions, became a committee person, that pretty much prompted me to become active," he said. "I have gone before the TOB [Town of Oyster Bay] town board to argue different issues."

Over the past seven years, he has been active in local politics, having served as a Democratic County Committee member and was affiliated with the Gianelli Democratic Club, the Mid-Nassau Democratic Club, the Levittown Democratic Club, the Wantagh-Seaford Democratic Club and the NorthWest Civic Association. Buonagura believes in the idea that one voice and one vote can make a difference and has gone before the Oyster Bay Town Board to argue issues that help protect the environment and welfare of residents.

As a member of the Assembly, Buonagura believes he can be effective in seeing that change is made. "There have been a lot of things discussed by House Republicans that have never gotten done," he said. "I believe I am one of those people who has the time and energy to stand up and shout from the rafters what the problem is and how to fix it. I think that my youth and my passion for politics will give me an advantage on the podium arguing in front of 149 other members and 62 state senators.

According to Buonagura, one of the most important issues facing New York State is the budget and its residual effect on taxes. "Every time there is a budget problem down the line, there is going to be tax increases," he said. "The budget itself, every dime being spent in New York, needs to be overhauled. We need to find out exactly where money is going and we need to end the sweetheart deals that both parties are passing and find competitive pricing."

A strong advocate for emergency medical services, Buonagura would like to see the version of health class currently given in the schools improved through what he refers to as a state-funded Life Saver Program. "I don't want to demolish the health class, but rather introduce a program where juniors and seniors can be exposed and have the opportunity to take certified first responder and EMT classes so that they are picking up some medical knowledge and basic survival skills," he said. "Exposure to that training is going to save countless lives over the years. The more people that we expose, the more it becomes prevalent that first aid is necessary."

If elected to the Assembly, Buonagura said he plans to propose a Home Improvement Tax (HIT) Credit. The credit would be a way to not only provide affordable housing for all residents, but would also encourage families to remain in New York. "If you look around Nassau County, there is just not enough affordable housing. A lot of people are putting an upstairs on their houses, building out in the back ... for their children or elderly parents. Either way, you are keeping family together and reinforcing the family structure by creating the affordable housing situation for the entire family," he said. "But after the reassessment, these people end up paying a tremendous amount of taxes on this newly constructed part of their home. We need to give incentives to people to stay here and do things like that."

Buonagura said that by offering an incentive in the form of a multi-year tax credit many families will remain living here rather than moving someplace cheaper. "It would not be a critical decrease in the budget and at the same time you are creating an incentive for these people who are teetering on moving someplace like North Carolina which is cheaper than staying here. We want to retain the people here who built up New York. I think that kind of incentive is warranted."

In addition, Buonagura is aware of the critical nature of environmental issues on Long Island and stated that priority should be taken to ensure that the brownfields and Superfund sites are cleaned up. "Twenty years ago when Congress put the Superfund project together it was the greatest idea. We were going to fix everything, clean everything up and it was going to be one of those 'let's use the space we have' routines," he said. "But over the course of the decades, on a state level, our money has diminished and diminished until this year where there is pretty much nothing in the budget. We need to invigorate a Superfund and brownfield campaign. There are always places that can be cleaned up so that businesses have incentive to go back to work there."

On a local level, Buonagura said the Underhill property in Jericho is a huge priority on his list. "Not only is it a federally protected aquifer, it is one of the only few open spaces we have," he said. "I have nothing against putting up affordable and senior housing ... but we need to start re-evaluating where these places are being built."