Jimmy Dahroug for New York State Senate

Reform Albany

Our number one priority is to reform the broken system in Albany. Every piece of progressive legislation hangs in the balance.

Right now Albany is the most dysfunctional government in the nation: Three men in a room call the shots. Taxpayer money is wasted on pork projects. Our leaders spend more time talking to wealthy donors and special interests than the taxpayers that sent them to Albany in the first place.

]]> Together we can change the way business is done in Albany. We can reform the legislative rules so fresh ideas can be debated openly on the Senate floor. Legislators will be held accountable to the public for their spending priorities. We'll level the playing field through campaign finance reform.

It's time to do the people's business instead of business as usual.

Priorities:

Rules Reform

Full Public Disclosure of Member Item Spending

Clean Money, Clean Campaigns

Tax Relief

Here on Long Island, property taxes are two and a half times the national average, with 66.5% of the property tax bill going toward funding local school district expenses. Although, local school districts are a separate level of government, County Executive Levy and I are ready to take action on these out of control taxes.

]]> As our State Senator I will sponsor the Levy Property Tax Reform Plan on the state level. Under this plan school districts will pool resources and buying power to cut costs, while preserving local control:

Health Insurance: Combining school districts, and possibly Suffolk County and other municipalities, into a single insurance entity to purchase and administer health benefits. Under this plan, it is estimated taxpayers can save between $20-30 million annually.

Finance: Under the Levy Plan, I will sponsor legislation for the State Comptroller to oversee the investment and cash management of county and participating school districts under a Municipal Investment Pool. This method will not only cut costs, it will result in a higher return on investments for participating school districts.

Skilled Labor and Public Works: school districts can purchase off of county contracts for skilled labor and public works projects. According to school officials, this initiative can cut spending through the elimination of administrative and consulting costs.

Additional Shared Services: Other areas to shares services and cut spending include Information Technology, maintenance and operations services, as well as shared energy efficiency and environmental resources.

County Executive Steve Levy's record for cutting taxes and spending is second to none. The success of our campaign is critical to passing Steve's Tax Reform Plan in Albany.

Health Care

New York State Residents deserve affordable health care. Far too many people are uninsured and underinsured; and the cost of prescription drugs continues to soar.

]]> The health of our community members must be our priority in Albany, not the agenda of insurance and drug company lobbyists. We must ensure that health care plans are held to the highest standard under New York law. We must also work to expand health care coverage and make prescription drugs more affordable.

Priorities:

Expand Healthcare coverage.

Continue to ensure HMOs are accountable to the people.

Allow for the state-wide bulk purchasing of drugs so New York State residents can leverage their buying power for lower drug costs.

Enact legislation calling for drug manufacturers to disclose the cost of marketing their drugs in New York.

Daily Kos

Excerpt from Daily Kos blog entry by David Michaelson, November 2007:

It is rare that I make it to political events in Manhattan, but so many people were urging me to meet Jimmy Dahroug, candidate for State Senate in Suffolk County, last night at a Manhattan fundraiser with Jim Dean of Democracy for America as a special guest.

]]> Two Republican State Senate seats stand between New Yorkers and a functional state government. Two Republican State Senate seats stand between New Yorkers and real reform of our system. Many of Eliot Spitzer's most popular and progressive programs, including better healthcare and reform of the Rockefeller drug laws, and reform of Albany, are routinely passed by the Assembly but blocked by Joe Bruno.

Two seats.

Which brings us to Jimmy Dahroug. Jimmy Dahroug in many ways fits a theme for my political involvement.

In 2006 Jimmy Dahroug's race was one of the two closest State Senate races in the state...which means if we want to win those two seats that keep Joe Bruno able to block real governing of New York Jimmy's race is one of the ones we have to win.

Newsday Spin Cycle Blog

Excerpt from Newsday's Spin Cycle blog, November 2007:

While Republican State Sen. Caesar Trunzo mulls whether to seek re-election, Jimmy Dahroug, an aide to County Executive Steve Levy, is already raising money to make a third bid for the Third District seat -- and says he has already raised over $50,000.

]]> Dahroug held a $100-per-head fundraiser last week that pulled in $3,000 at Awixa Castle in Bay Shore, and has another event planned for Nov 27 in the Park Ave. apartment of Barbara and Morris Pearl in New York City, where tickets range from $50 to $2,500. In the past week alone, Dahroug said he has raised $7,000.

New York Times Endorsement 2006

Ads for Senator Caesar Trunzo say “He’s Always There,” an assertion that voters would have a hard time disputing, particularly if they are under 33 years old.

]]> Mr. Trunzo, an 80-year-old Brentwood Republican, was elected in 1972. He has shown no signs of wanting to relax his grip, either on his Senate seat or on his position as leader of the Islip Town Republicans, who have been mired in scandal and internal warfare since the epic downfall of Peter McGowan, the former town supervisor who was convicted of corruption.

Voters who want a break from the follies of the Islip G.O.P., and would a prefer an energetic full-time senator over a back-bencher who moonlights as a party boss, should consider Jimmy Dahroug, 27, a Brentwood native and aide to County Executive Steve Levy.

The studious Mr. Dahroug, a Democrat with a master’s degree in education policy and management from Harvard, wants to apply himself to education issues — he worked as an undergraduate on the Campaign for Fiscal Equity case, which is seeking to reform New York’s arcane and unfair school-funding formulas.

His candidacy poses a powerful counterargument to Mr. Trunzo’s case for yet another re-election, which amounts to yet another promise of yet another slathering of home-district bacon. We endorse Mr. Dahroug.

Newsday Endorsement 2006

These have been tough times for state Sen. Caesar Trunzo (R-Brentwood), who is both an elected official and the leader of the Republican Party in Islip.

The arrest, resignation and incarceration of the town's top Republican, Supervisor Pete McGowan, was a body blow to the party. Then Trunzo backed Thomas Barraga in a primary race for supervisor, but Barraga lost to councilwoman Pamela Greene, no fan of Trunzo.

So Trunzo, 80, could use a rest, after more than three decades in the Senate, and the Democrat, Jimmy Dahroug, 27, of Brentwood, is ready to step up.

]]> We liked his solid education credentials, including an undergraduate degree from Columbia University and a master's from Harvard in education policy and management. He also worked for the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, whose lawsuit about inadequate funding of New York City schools is roiling Albany. He has real government skills, working for Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy.

Dahroug acknowledges Trunzo's claims of bringing back the bacon to his district. But he says that the $45 million that Trunzo has given local groups over the past 12 years would have been better spent on education.

It's time for a change in this district, and Dahroug has the smarts, policy knowledge and energy to be a change agent. Newsday endorses Dahroug.

Jimmy Dahroug is "exactly the type of new blood the legislature needs." -Newsday

"He views the world through working-class eyes. Dahroug's enthusiasm is unrivaled. When he speaks, he burns with a passion to make a difference and better taxpayers' lives." -Suffolk Life

Never before has a State Senate race had State-Wide Consequences:

Wherever you live in New York State, the outcome of my race will affect you, me, our friends, and our families for generations to come.

Today, we are only two seats from gaining a Democratic majority in the New York State Senate. This will end the dysfunction caused by four decades of Republican domination.

My reform campaign was one of the 2 races statewide that came closest to flipping Republican to Democrat in the last election cycle. It is one the most vulnerable seats the Republicans hold – Therefore it is a must-win seat.

In 2006, we gave Republican Caesar Trunzo his closest race in 30 years - pushing him back to 53% of the vote.

Today, so many pieces of progressive legislation are being held hostage by Joe Bruno and the mean-spirited Republican majority. Expanding healthcare, fairly funding our schools, tax relief for our working middle class – all of these priorities and so many more are on the line.

Most importantly, I know we cannot fully address these issues until we reform the broken government in Albany. Every piece of progressive legislation hangs in the balance. Together we can change the way business is done in Albany.

Our Environment

Our environment affects our health, our economy, and our basic quality of life. I will work hard to protect Long Island's pristine land and beaches and promote sound environmental policies throughout New York State.

]]> Priorities:

Pass Wetlands Protection Laws: Wetlands play a critical role in filtering pollutants and improving water supply, especially here on Long Island.

Increase the Environmental Protection Fund to create a new clean air account: The purpose of this account will be to upgrade dirty school boilers, encourage the use of Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel and fund the initial costs of conversions to bio-fuels.

Promoting Rideshare Programs as I have in Suffolk County, to encourage mass transit and reduce pollutants in our air.

Education

Our State is at a crossroads right now. We can truly reform school funding to provide a solid education for every child, or we can do the bare minimum. As a former student from a community where hard-working students, parents and teachers accomplished a great deal, but were limited by a lack of funds, this matter is personal to me.

]]> Right now we really do have two public school systems - and where a child's family can afford to live determines the quality of education they receive. That is fundamentally wrong. Every child deserves a sound basic education. I will go to Albany to fight for a school finance plan that ensures every district is sufficiently funded, without taking money from other districts.

Priorities:

Adequate funding for every school district in New York State.

A simpler state funding formula for public schools to eliminate unfair political deal-making.

A transparent funding process so parents and school leaders know where they stand.

Keeping college affordable for working families.

Seniors

Senior citizens in our community are fortunate to have many available resources, but there is still work to be done. I will work hard in the Senate to expand and publicize these programs in order to help seniors with affordable housing, lower prescription drug costs, and other vital issues in their daily lives.

]]> Priorities:

Raise the income cap for the EPIC (Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage) program to include more seniors at lower fees and lower co-payments.

Limit cost-sharing responsibilities of participants in the EPIC (Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage) program.

Ensure senior citizens continue to receive the enhanced exemption under the Star program.

Allow for the bulk purchasing of drugs so seniors can leverage their buying power for lower drug costs.

A Level Playing Field

I believe in the values of hard work, responsibility, and empowerment. These values bring out the very best in our society as residents work to build their own American Dreams. As such, our leaders have a responsibility to protect and foster a level playing field for all of our residents.

]]> Priorities:

Protect the human rights of all individuals, regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation.

Stand up for individuals and businesses that work hard and play by the rules.

Attract new jobs and opportunities to the Long Island area for our workforce.

Raise the Minimum wage and index the rate for inflation. Fight for fair wages across the board.

Protect Unions and the right of workers to choose a union to represent their interests.

To contact me or my campaign, please feel free to use the following:

By email: jimmyforsenate@gmail.com

By phone: 631-434-5623

By mail:
People for Jimmy Dahroug
24 Nostrand Avenue
Brentwood, NY 11717

Jimmy Dahroug currently serves as a County Executive Assistant in the Levy Administration. Jimmy acts as a liaison from the County Executive's office to the County Legislature's committees on Labor, Workforce and Affordable Housing; Economic Development, Higher Education, and Energy; and Consumer protection.

Jimmy led the effort to create the County Executive Gang Task Force which he chairs. He also played an instrumental role in creating the County Executive's Naming Rights Commission which has the potential to bring in additional revenue to the county. Jimmy helped create the first county carpool program which has lead to a significant reduction in emissions from county employee cars.

Through scholarships and hard work Jimmy made his way though Columbia University where he served as Senior Class President. As a college student, Jimmy also spearheaded the creation of a student group to get Columbia's young men involved in working to stop violence against women. Jimmy continued his passion for education reform throughout college by conducting studies on New York school funding. Jimmy went on to earn his master's degree in education at Harvard. There he also took classes at Harvard Law School, the Kennedy School of Government.

As the Democratic Nominee in 2006, Jimmy Dahroug gave State Senator Caesar Trunzo his closest race in 30 years. His grassroots campaign was one of only three in New York State to be endorsed by Howard Dean and Democracy for America.

Jimmy and his family reside in Brentwood and are members of St. Anne's Parish.

We are only 2 seats from a Democratic Majority in the New York State Senate.

Only 2 seats – and Jimmy's running for one of them!

That's why wherever you live in New York State, this election will affect you.