Q and A with candidate Linda Andrei

Tompkins Weekly Staff

 

The upcoming Democratic primary for New York’s 23rd congressional district is a crowded one. Tompkins Weekly has sent this Q and A to all of the primary candidates and will be printing them in the order received.

 

Tompkins Weekly: What makes you qualified to be the Congressional Representative for NY 23?
Linda Andrei: I have a depth and breadth of education and experience with a Medical degree and a Masters in Fine Art. I practiced medicine for 30 years and that encompassed Academic medicine (Assistant Professor), and Administration (Director Cardiac Catheterization Lab) Private Practice.
I have held numerous leadership positions including but not limited to Executive Chief Medical Resident, Chair of The Tompkins County Board of The American Red Cross, President of the New York Chapter of The Women’s Caucus for the Arts.

TW: Why are you running for Representative of NY 23?
LA: I am running for Congress to bring a new direction, a new vision, and a new brand of leadership to Washington. We cannot open new doors of opportunity by doing things the old way. It does not work. We have seen the results. It is time we lift the cloud of complacency that hangs over our nation’s capital and end the hyper-partisanship that dominates the political landscape. When we work together to deliver political courage and real leadership to Congress, we will find that our best days are ahead of us. It’s a new day and my candidacy is all about leading and legislating in a different way.

TW: What do you offer to the residents of Tompkins County that the other candidates running in the primary do not?
LA: As a physician, a scientist and cardiologist I believe I can bring a unique voice to Washington for the residents of New York’s 23rd district. I will fight just as hard for the people of the 23rd district as I did for my patients.

TW: What is your plan to stimulate job growth in the NY 23?
LA: I think it is time for a New Deal. One that assures everyone a job with dignity and a living wage. Our crumbling infrastructure and the need to move from a fossil fuel dependent energy structure to one dependent on wind, water, geothermal and solar energy is a place to start. This alone will generate many jobs. This must be done however with public and governmental oversight.

Unlike the plan put forward by the current administration which requires private investment, my plan would rely on public funds. Private industry would have to compete for contracts that would require union jobs with union wages (prevailing wage) and benefits. I believe it is time for private industry to compete for skilled workers. The investment of private funds should be looked upon with great skepticism as there would be a loss of accountability and transparency. Private investment into infrastructure would necessitate a return on that investment and one can see the resulting tolls on roads and resources such as water.
In addition, there is and will continue to be a need for skilled workers in the area of child and elder care.

I believe it is important when planning to consider the long-term goals and the impact on the communities involved.

TW: Where do you stand on Safe Injection Facilities?
LA: There is considerable debate on this subject and a fair amount of research mainly from experience in Europe and Canada. While I am aware there is good research showing that lives are saved and the benefit of providing access to treatment I believe the solution is not this simple. Drug addiction is inherently unpredictable and addicts are unreliable. This is an undeniable part of the addiction itself. I do support safe injection sites but I believe they must also encourage and require the addict to follow through with a program of rehabilitation. The expectation that the addict should continue intravenous drug use without any expectation of recovery is a disservice to the patient. So unlimited visits to safe injection sites to reduce harm while on the surface appear to be a win-win solution for the addict and the community, they alone do not fully address the underlying problem and have the potential to prolong the addiction.

 

TW: The heroin and opioid crisis has had a major impact in this region. How do you plan on addressing the crisis?
LA: The nationwide opioid crisis has had a devastating effect in our region and its spread and reach has touched virtually every community in the 23rd district. When elected, I will advocate for the following:
• Tightly control prescribing and dispensing of addictive pain medications
• Educate health care providers and the public about addiction
• Develop systems for tracking and prescribing pain medications after surgery
• Prevent the influx of illegal drugs into the country
• Look for the underlying causes of drug dependence, especially social isolation
• Provide compassionate rehabilitation and prevention services

TW: What do you want the residents of Tompkins County to know about you?
LA: At its core, my candidacy for U.S. Congress is not a referendum against President Donald Trump or Congressman Tom Reed. I am not running against anything. My focus is the people of the 23rd district and moving our country forward. I am running a high-energy progressive campaign for good high-paying jobs, high-quality affordable health care for all Americans, a sustainable environment, and a public education system that is returned to its former standing as the global gold standard.