Candidate Profile: Skyler Johnson, New York State Senate District 1 (2024)

"I'd be the youngest person elected to the legislature — beating Theodore Roosevelt's record by a single year."

Posted Sun, Nov 6, 2022 at 8:35 pm ET|Updated Mon, Nov 7, 2022 at 1:05 pm ET

Senate District 1 covers the East End towns of East Hampton, Southold, Shelter Island, Southampton, and Riveerhead as well as some of eastern Brookhaven Town.

In anticipation of the election, Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns. Here are their answers, lightly edited for clarity.

Skyler Johnson

Campaign website

https://skylerforsenate.com

City or town of residence

Mount Sinai

Office sought

NYS Senate District 1

Party affiliation

Democrat

Education

Bachelors of Political Science from Stony Brook University

Occupation

I work for New Hour For Women and Children, a non-profit based out of Brentwood. We offer re-entry services to formerly incarcerated women and support their families.

Family

I’m not married/ no kids

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

N/A

Age

22

Previous public office, appointive or elective

No

Why are you seeking this office?

There’s a lot at stake in this election. I’m running to make sure we can protect reproductive rights, protect our environment, lower the cost of living on Long Island, and protect our roads and critical infrastructure.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

My opponent doesn’t show up for his district. Most of his constituents have never met him, and if they do, it’s always a month before the election. He ignores constituent calls. I will never do that.

My opponent constant engages in unethical behavior, including representing a client in his private law firm against his own constituency just last year. He’s a part-time senator— I will be full-time.

My opponent is anti-minimum wage, anti-choice, and pro-guns on our streets. Our positions could not be more different.

At the end of the day. I know the issues facing my district. My opponent does not.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

He has ignored his constituents for years at a time. Members of the community regularly struggle to reach his office.

He has voted to allow convicted domestic abusers to buy guns, voted against the right to choose, and ignored the needs of his community.

Senator Palumbo is not doing what is best for us— he is treating the state senate as a taxpayer-funded, part-time hobby.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Reproductive Rights
Affordable Housing
Infrastructure
Environmental Issues
Clean Water
Gun safety
Crime
Education

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

The non-profit I work for successfully keeps crime low — the recidivism rate is under 2 percenr for New Hour members. In that role, I have spent a significant amount of time in the Capitol meeting with lawmakers to discuss the issues facing Long Island.

During the height of the pandemic, I successfully scheduled hundreds of vaccine appointments for our most vulnerable communities. I will bring that commitment to Albany.

I currently sit on the board of Temple Beth Emeth of Mount Sinai, where my main role is to review budgetary and policy decisions to improve the organization.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Talk to everyone! I will speak to anyone, regardless of ideology, to share my view and learn theirs.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I’d be the youngest person elected to the legislature (beating Theodore Roosevelt’s record by a single year). I can offer some generational diversity to Albany, fight against corruption, and truly deliver for the people of Long Island. I’m endorsed by 1199SEIU, which represents healthcare workers, as well as CSA, which represents School Administrators throughout New York. I’m ready to fight for everyone — not just my donors.