Q&A: Juan Reyes, Candidate for State Senate

Juan Reyes is a lawyer living in Forest Hills running for the Republican nomination to state Senate District 15. Below are his answers to a questionnaire we provided to local candidates for office.

Patch: If elected, what would be your first priority in Albany?

Reyes: Providing an environment where there is opportunity for my neighbors here in Queens and for all New Yorkers. We need to diversify New York State's economy and provide a level playing field for all businesses to succeed.

There is too much reliance on government programs, subsidies, and political favoritism to do business in New York, and this is not how we will create the thousands of new jobs needed to get New York back on track. 

Patch: What do you think is the most pressing issue facing voters in your district this year?

Reyes: Jobs and economic opportunity. The lack of jobs is destructive not only economically, but socially, as a lack of jobs will eventually lead to higher crime and will impact the quality of life in our Queens neighborhoods. People want to keep the positive changes that I had the opportunity to be a part of during the Giuliani administration.

Without a solid economy, we will see a loss of the tremendous progress the city has made in fighting crime and making the city liveable.

Patch: What is the role of government in helping to stimulate economic growth, if any?

Reyes: Government needs to provide roads, schools, police and fire services, and the infrastructure for the economy to grow and create opportunity. With these services, we can be assured of safe neighborhoods and schools that enable students to master the basics, reading and math.

Government should not be picking winners and losers, and it is individual initiative and small businesses that are the real drivers of growth and creators of wealth, not government programs.

Neighborhoods are not laboratories for social-engineering experiments, and government needs to respect the fact that the growth and management of communities needs to be take place at the neighborhood level, not by city departments or Albany bureaucrats.

Patch: Considering the size and scope of your district, how will you ensure that your entire constituency is represented, if elected?

Reyes: I will do it the same way that I have campaigned: by getting out to each neighborhood and meeting the people on their blocks and at their community meetings.

There are many local associations where citizens voice their opinions, and keeping the lines of communication open with these groups and their leaders is essential.

Most importantly, I have no interest in becoming a professional politician and hiding in an office at the state capitol. I will keep up the hard work that has earned my campaign so much support thus far.

Primary Day is Thursday, Sept. 13. The winner of the Republican Primary will face Democrat Joe Addabbo Jr. in November.