Sarah Anker of Mount Sinai, has tossed her hat into the political arena with her sights set on the First Senate District seat. Anker, a Democrat who served just shy of 13 years as Legislator of Suffolk County's 6th District before being term-limited, is challenging Republican incumbent Anthony Palumbo of New Suffolk, in a District that is narrowly Democrat-dominated with 79,201 registered Democrats, 72,041 registered Republicans, and an uncommitted 67,512 blanks.
Anker offered a multitude of reasons for seeking election to the State House during an interview this week. "What prompted me to run for the First Senate District is that there's so much more to do, and there are so many resources out there that are available to our residents, and I want to make sure that they're receiving the help they need," Anker said. "I represent Long Island values; there's more that can be done to help our seniors and our veterans." Anker, who chaired Suffolk County's Opioid Addiction Prevention Support Advisory Panel added, "The feds and the state are doing a lot, but both levels of government need to step up to do more." Other issues Anker said need to be tackled include taxes and state education aid, with local affordable housing topping the list. "Young people are finding it difficult to find housing that they can afford, and seniors can't afford to downsize," she stated.
Anker says she is a proponent for public safety and will "push back" against bail reform and Law 50A that requires law enforcement officers to divulge their personal information. "Immigration is a federal issue that is affecting Long Island," she said, adding, "I believe in legal immigration, but process as it is now is broken and has to be fixed because we're feeling the burden here at the state level."
Asked about her greatest asset and accomplishments as a former Suffolk lawmaker as she launches her campaign for the Senate seat, Anker replied: "My greatest asset is my ability to reach out to people, find what their needs are, then address those issues. That's why I was able to run in a very Republican (Suffolk County legislative) district as a Democrat and win. It's all about putting people over politics," Anker said.
"I want the residents of the First Senate District to know that if I'm elected, I will serve them as their full-time Senator," Anker said, adding, "Anthony (Palumbo) has a private law practice." A law was passed by state lawmakers giving elected officials raises but restricts the amount electeds can earn while holding office is limited to a $35,000 maximum.
Anker presently holds an appointed position of Assistant to the Commissioner at the Suffolk County Board of Elections earning a $98,098 annual salary. Asked about the legality of holding the position while campaigning, Anker said she has been assured that she is legally permitted to hold the position while running for State Senate. She will run her campaign during the off-hours from her 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. job. "I'll be campaigning evenings and on weekends, and I'm hoping to get the word out with constituents in the Senate District that I will be their full-time senator in Albany with a louder voice and greater representation," Anker said. The base salary for New York State senators is $142,000 annually.
Asked about whether she will sign up for the state's Campaign Finance Reform that limits contributions that can be given and received by a corporations, individuals and political committees, and matches donation contributions ($600 from the Finance Board for each $50 contribution the candidate receives), Anker confirmed that she will opt in for the matching contribution funding.
Meanwhile, Anker is intent on winning the senate seat on November 5th. "As a Democrat, I represent Republican, Conservative and Democratic constituents and I can bring their values to the table as a member of the Democrat supermajority; with a 42 Democrat and 21 Republican supermajority, Anthony (Palumbo) doesn't have the ability to do that," Anker explained. "It's all about getting work done for the constituents. "