The Norwood News sent questionnaires to the candidates of 80th Assembly District, which includes Norwood as well as Morris Park. Incumbent Naomi Rivera did not respond, but her upstart challenger, 27-year-old former Obama operative Robert Giuffre did. Below is an undedited sampling of Giuffre’s answers. For the full list of questions and answers, click here.

Will you serve as a full-time legislator? If not, what other jobs will you also keep?
Yes, being that the annual salary is $80,000, I believe it is only fair to work full-time and to not collect outside income that could merit a conflict of interest.  I would however volunteer some of my time to help other future reform-minded candidates to help implement real change in Albany.

What can you do as a state legislator to address high unemployment in the Bronx?
Experimental job sharing is a good way to not only create jobs, but also increase quality of service.  Technological unemployment combined with a lackluster economy has produced a devastatingly bad job market for young people and the recently laid off.  Job sharing seems like the most logical, foolproof option that would not only create jobs, but would also increase productivity and quality of service.

State government could also offer tax incentives to industries that provide well paying jobs to lure business to New York and the Bronx.  The Bronx is strategically located within the tristate area: it is close to Manhattan, New Jersey, Westchester, Connecticut and Long Island.  The strategic location, coupled with tax incentives, could lead some businesses to relocate. 

Name three things you would do to reform the legislative process in Albany.
I would draft or co-sponsor legislation that would emulate the NYC Campaign Finance Program at the state level.
Budget reforms like implementing GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles), a five year budget plan, and creation of an independent budget board. 

I would also support reforming the member item “pork” spending practices that set up situations of “horse trading” in the legislative process.  Member item money could be distributed equally to all members regardless of rank or political capital.

What do you think about the state’s current tax structure?
I believe an unfair burden is placed on the backs of working families.  There are many working poor families in the Bronx who fall between the cracks of our economic system.  They have too much money to benefit from public programs, but do not have enough money to live without worry on a daily basis.  The state needs to stop causing economic devastation onto families faced with nickel and dime taxes.  We should raise the state income tax and increase new tiers within the tax structure. A person making $40,000 a year should not pay the same tax rate as someone earning $400,000.  The state should also seriously consider implementing a stock transfer fee tax, a tax I would support.