Congressional Special Election candidates talk plans for office

A special election for New York’s old 23rd Congressional District will occur Aug. 23 of this year. The old District 23 includes Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany, Steuben, Yates, Schuyler, Seneca, Tompkins and Chemung counties and parts of Ontario and Tioga counties. Tompkins Weekly asked the two candidates, Democrat Max Della Pia and Republican Joseph Sempolinski, a series of questions, which they both answered over email. Their answers are below.

TW: Why are you running for Congress?

Max Della Pia: After defending our Constitution for over 32 years in the Air Force (AF), I’m very concerned about the trajectory of our democracy. Congress is broken. We need to start talking with each other. We don’t have to agree on everything. We should focus on what brings us together as Americans, not what pulls us apart. We can agree to disagree on some things but then look for points of agreement and ways to work together to move our country forward and serve our constituents.

That’s a tall order but an important one. I cannot do it alone and I can’t do it without your help. Ultimately, our success in changing the trajectory of our democracy will depend on changing the type of persons we send to Congress. If we send people motivated by money/greed, power, and ego, we are likely to get more of the same. We need to send people motivated by service to our country, not to themselves. That is the only reason I am running. I want to serve.

Joseph Sempolinski: This district is my home. I was born here, raised here, am raising my family here and have spent my whole career working for the people of the old 23rd Congressional District. I am concerned about the future that my children will grow up in. If I can make that future a little bit better and give a voice to the friends and neighbors that have given me everything, I have a duty to step up and serve. The people of the 23rd District deserve to have a voice that knows their needs and values.

TW: How would you distinguish yourself from your opponent?

MDP: – Leadership: New York Air National Guard Wing Commander: 1260 airmen and women, 14 Aircraft and a $93 Million annual budget. Board President Racker Center, 2600-3500 persons with disabilities, 760-800 employees, $41 Million budget.

– Experience: 30-year AF veteran, pilot, trial attorney, business owner, & US Senate Staffer/Brookings Fellow & AF Senate Liaison

– Service: former Board Member for Owego Rotary (community service) and Tioga Rural Ministry (serving the unmet needs of the poor, sick and elderly of Tioga County)

– Education: USAF Academy, BS Economics; Marquette Univ Law School Cum Laude; National Defense University MS; National Resource Strategy (Distinguished Graduate)

JS: I am 100% committed to the old 23rd District. If I am elected, I will be focused entirely on doing the job of being a representative. My opponent would be spending his time running for office in a different district rather than working for the people. In fact, he doesn’t even live in the district he will be running for in November. I would be working for you while he would be playing politics.

Also, I know this district better than my opponent. Because of my background, I have worked on federal issues in every corner of this region.

TW: What would you describe as your strengths and weaknesses as a public servant?

MDP: Strengths: Teambuilding, leadership, strategic planning, analytical thinking, and a proven ability to remain calm in emergencies and stressful situations

Weaknesses: tendency to be too nice and give people the benefit of the doubt

JS: I am willing to listen to people of all backgrounds, partisan affiliations and perspectives. A representative is not going to always agree with everyone that they encounter, but I feel that they are obligated to listen. Only then can they know what their employers, the people, want and need. It is also the best way to learn about issues. The people who live with the consequences of public policy are usually better at generating ideas for improvement than political insiders.

As far as a weakness goes, I sometimes get frustrated when progress isn’t made quickly enough.

TW: If elected, what are your top three priorities as a congressperson?

MDP: Equity/Fairness: Prioritize access to quality healthcare, particularly in rural areas; protect reproductive freedom, pass the Equality Act, and push for fair taxation

Environment: Protect our water, world-famous lakes, air & soil; incentivize clean energy; and reduce our reliance on single-use plastics (reduce, recycle &
re-use)

Economic Resilience and Job Creation: Obtain our share of infrastructure-funded training & well-paying jobs. Provide affordable, universal access to broadband for our small businesses, students, and farms

JS: First, every elected official, all the time, should focus on constituent service. People call their member of Congress when they don’t know who else to call. The Congressional office needs to be a welcoming place where people feel they have been heard and helped.

Next, I will be focusing on economic development. The Southern Tier and Finger Lakes, like many rural areas, have been left behind. I will work on policy and projects that will help set the table for prosperity for our region. This is especially important as we come out of COVID.

Also, I will focus on being accessible. There will be many votes cast, especially in the lame duck session after the election. Unless a member of Congress is listening to the people they represent they can not hope to be successful.

TW: What would you like potential voters to know about you?

MDP: My parents were both WWII veterans. They taught, “Service gives life purpose.” That has been my life’s focus whether serving in the military or in my community. Over the course of my career, my wife Nancy and I moved our family 10 times. Our oldest son is a pilot serving in the AF in Japan with his wife and our three grandchildren. Our youngest son [is] an Eagle Scout, ultra-marathon athlete, and a former volunteer fireman who has worked in farming and heavy construction. Our oldest is a gifted mechanical engineer and a beautiful trans woman.

JS: That I am someone who wants to serve their community. I owe everything to the people of the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes. If I can make people’s lives a little bit freer and more prosperous, I want to do that. I have spent my career working in and for this region. I will be focused on the needs of the people, not on playing political games in Washington, DC.

TW: How do you plan to address the needs of the different cultures, socioeconomic statuses, etc. that are in this district?

MDP: I will listen to all whom I represent, put their interests first, and do my absolute best to serve everyone in the district, whether they voted for me or not. My military career has given me many opportunities to work with, train, and become friends with people from many different cultures, countries, and backgrounds.

When I was the Senior Airfield Authority for Kandahar, Afghanistan and Air Expeditionary Group Commander, I was the senior USAF Officer on a NATO base of over ten thousand military and contract personnel from over 10 different countries. My volunteer work has focused on people with special needs as well as people in need. All those experiences will make me a better, more effective Congressman.

JS: People deserve to be listened to. Any representative brings their own experiences to the job, but no single person can have firsthand experiences in all the different backgrounds that make up a community. The way to overcome this is to be humble and listen.

A member of Congress works for the people, they must always remember who is the employer and who is the employee. Some elected officials focus on pushing the solutions they see fit onto problems. It is better to listen to the people and get wisdom and ideas from those who are actually living under the policies created by the government. To do this well, input is needed from all segments of the community.

TW: How are you best suited to address the economic and social impacts of COVID-19?

MDP: I have an Economics degree from the US Air Force Academy and Master’s Degree from NDU in National Resource Strategy. My wife is a Public Health Nurse and I am a member of the National Ski Patrol and the Elder/Property Committee Chair at my church.

We both pay particular attention to science to assist our church in making decisions regarding COVID-19 protocols for the health and safety of all our members but particularly our most vulnerable immunocompromised and aging members. I am also cognizant of COVID risks and complied with the various, changing protocols required to keep injured skiers and snowboarders safe.

JS: We are currently recovering from the greatest health, economic and social crisis of our lifetimes. We need to be focused on economic recovery. The solution from Washington has been to spend more and more. My opponent would support that failed strategy. I would not.

We also need to make sure that our children recover from the pandemic. A traumatic event impacts children even more than it impacts adults. As someone who was on staff at a school during the pandemic, I will support parents and families to return to normal as quickly as possible.