Sixth District sees two newcomers

Longtime Nassau County Legislator Francis X. Becker (R-Lynbrook) announced last November that he would not seek re-election this year, after having served in that position for two decades. In December he will finish his term in the 6th District, which includes Lynbrook, Malverne, North Lynbrook, Valley Stream and portions of Franklin Square, Hewlett, Rockville Centre and Woodmere. 

Two newcomers, C. William Gaylor, of Lynbrook, and James Paymar, of Rockville Centre, a vying for his seat. One is an attorney, the other in communications – and both claim to not be politicians by nature.

Parts of District 6 were severely impacted by Hurricane Sandy, and many homeowners are still recovering. What would you do in your role as legislator to help struggling Sandy victims?

C. William Gaylor: While most of the District was spared from the brunt of the storm damage, our neighbors to the South were not so lucky. It’s an absolute disgrace that the federal and state governments failed our neighbors. No one should be waiting for federal or state Aid nearly three years later, or fighting with their insurance companies. I would challenge the bureaucracy wherever and however I could, because our residents deserve better. The blight and negative effect on our communities created by abandoned and destroyed houses should not be tolerated. We need to do more to prevent properties from falling into further disrepair. I would work towards creating an innovative plan for a swifter recovery. I support public-private partnerships to provide immediate aid effectively to residents in the communities most affected. My efforts would be directed towards a relief and recovery plan that focuses on helping those in impacted areas in near real time.

Jim Paymar: The first priority is to make sure displaced people have found shelter and a pathway back to their own homes. If a property owner requires financing to rebuild, government should find reasonable solutions, working with financial institutions, so that can be accomplished. The abandoned “zombie homes” need to be eliminated from the county. Banks, insurance companies and homeowners need to resolve legal issues so homes can be rehabilitated. If beyond repair, they need to be razed. Nassau County needs to learn from the mistakes of the past. We need to re-engineer the county to protect our communities. As a legislator, I would work with county, state and federal authorities to make sure we better protect our coastal zones and our water and sewer systems. I would ensure that proper plans are put in place to restore gas and electric power that took far too long to repair after Sandy.

The Sixth District is a very diverse area. If elected, what would you do to make sure you adequately represent all of your constituents?

Gaylor: The diversity of our district lends itself to its greatness. We live in a thriving district that is seeing an economic rebirth. The explosion of new business in Lynbrook, Rockville Centre and Valley Stream has this district on the edge of an economic boom. A thriving local economy will help reduce the tax burden on our residents. Revitalizing downtowns and the adjacent areas is necessary to the overall redevelopment of our community. For example, all the communities are currently in a transformation, seeing a resurgence of new businesses being developed in the area. Great things are happening right here in our neighborhood. Growing our downtown areas also requires building quality rental housing, co-ops and condominiums in these areas to create affordable housing for our residents. Only then can we turn some of the blight in the area into productive properties on the tax rolls contributing towards creating a healthy economy.

Paymar: Community outreach is key. As a legislator, I would make sure my office has open access and meetings are set up with constituents who want to air their concerns and solutions. We need to encourage citizen participation in government. I would attend town halls and community group meetings on a regular basis. I would reach out to every community through electronic newsletters and mailings. I would utilize the local press when possible and government access TV to get the word out about the issues we confront.

Why should people vote for you?

Gaylor: I am not a politician. I am a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, husband, practicing attorney and former judge. I am running for Nassau County Legislature because it is important to me, my family and my friends and neighbors — and their families as well — to keep the American dream alive right here in Nassau County. I will fight for low taxes, less spending, tougher crime policies that keep our neighborhoods safe, and I will work tirelessly to make sure Nassau County remains one of the best places to live, work, and raise a family. I want to help create an environment in which job creators can thrive, so we can keep our young people right here in an affordable, prosperous economy. I believe my neighbors feel the same way and hopefully with their support I will be the voice of all residents living in the 6th Legislative District.

Paymar: I am not a career politician. I want to bring honesty, transparency and integrity back to Nassau. I will reach across the aisle and work with the entire legislature to get things done because we are all in this together. If we fail to work as a team, we will find ourselves unable to compete with other communities in the New York region and across the country. I am active in my community and have spent a great deal of time listening to people and learning the issues that confront all of us. I am a businessman and journalist who understands what it takes to make things work. I am a leader that can bring business back to Nassau and help create new revenue streams to get us out of debt and stop the yearly budget deficits. Our future depends on being competitive. We must reimagine and reinvigorate Nassau County in order to move forward.