Opinion: vote for Solages in 3rd Legislative District

The choice for the 3rd Legislative District seat isn’t an easy one this year, between 16-year Republican incumbent John Ciotti and his challenger, 31-year-old Democrat Carrié Solages, a local attorney.

Incumbents and challengers have a vastly different campaign experience: Whereas an incumbent seeks to highlight his accomplishments, a challenger carries the double burden of pointing out the incumbent’s weaknesses and touting his own potential — something that Solages was able to do, and do well.

The Herald urges residents of L.D. 3, which includes parts of Elmont, Franklin Square, West Hempstead and Valley Stream, among other communities, to cast their votes for Solages on Nov. 8.

Young, eager and representative of the changing demographics of the district, Solages would bring a fresh voice to the Legislature. Throughout the last decade, the black and Hispanic populations in each of the district’s communities have increased, and as residents’ needs have changed, so, too, should their representatives.

A first-generation Haitian immigrant, Solages is in touch with the community: He grew up in Elmont, went to high school in Franklin Square and is involved in several community and Island-wide groups. His goals include increasing voter participation and political activism, producing a better county budget and reducing debt, bolstering the 5th Precinct’s recently downsized Project-Oriented Policing unit, ensuring fairness in redrawing the county’s district lines, creating jobs and developing a casino at Belmont Park. Solages is energetic and passionate about his community, qualities that would only benefit the Legislature.

As an original member of the Legislature, Ciotti has brought great things to the district. He has been active in the county’s Anti-Bias Crime Task Force, which works to reduce bias and hate crimes. He supports local schools and has worked to secure funding for local development, including a streetscape project on Dutch Broadway in Elmont, completed in 2011.