New York State Assembly, 22nd District

Gonald Moncion
Republican
Background: Moncion, 48, of Valley Stream, running on the Republican and Conservative party lines. Moncion was born in Port Au Prince, Haiti, and immigrated to the United States at age 16 in 1986 to join his parents on Long Island. Moncion has a bachelor of arts degree in political science and education from LIU Brooklyn. He has master's degrees in guidance and counseling, and in political science, both from LIU Brooklyn. Moncion works as a guidance counselor at I.S. 238 Susan B. Anthony Junior High School in Hollis, Queens. Moncion is a community activist and a podcast talk show host whose program,  Speak Your Mind, educates the New York Haitian community about U.S. politics. He is currently a volunteer tennis coach for children at Hendrickson Park in Valley Stream. Moncion ran for the 22nd assembly district seat in 2014 and lost. Moncion is married and has three children.  
Issues: Moncion said he supports the two percent tax cap on public school budgets and that, if elected, he will focus on further lowering taxes. Moncion said that he supports the plan to bring the New York Islanders NHL hockey team to the Belmont section of the district, a move he says is projected to bring 3,100 permanent jobs and 12,300 construction jobs to the area for two to three years. Moncion said, "I feel there should be a training program for the people in the assembly district to be ready to take those jobs." Moncion also said that Elmont has one of the highest concentrations of cancer on Long Island. "There should be a study done to see what happened that caused new cases of cancer," he said. Moncion said that he would also be an advocate for schools and would support funding for more after-school programs in public schools.
Michaelle C. Solages
Democratic
Background: Solages, 33, of Elmont, was elected to the assembly in 2012 when she was 26. She is also on the Working Families, Independent, Reform and Women's Equality party lines. Solages was the first person of Haitian descent to be elected to the assembly. She was reelected in 2014 and 2016 and is seeking a fourth term. She earned a bachelor of science degree in athletic training from Hofstra University. Solages previously worked for a decade at Hofstra's Axinn Library, her last five years there as supervisor of access services. In the state assembly, Solages chairs the task force on new Americans, which deals with immigration policy. She also sits on the library and education technology, health, social services, and racing and waging committees. She is the first vice chairwoman of the Black, Hispanic, Puerto Rican and Asian caucus. Solages is married and has two children.
Issues: Solages said she is focusing on "the redevelopment of Belmont Park in Elmont. I would like to ensure that we create jobs and build something that benefits the neighboring community without sacrificing the quality of life." Solages said she seeks to "streamline state government to make it more transparent." She said that "the industrial development agencies  [IDAs]  throughout the state, which provide tax breaks and incentives for business to come into local communities, are still giving out sweetheart deals on the backs of homeowners and property taxpayers." Solages says New York State should engage in "more extensive vetting of government contracts to private business." Solages said she wants to "improve public education and reduce our reliance on high-stakes testing." Solages said she continues "to fund legislative grants to support enrichment of school programs and local community-based organization programs," and "to host programs to ensure entrepreneurs, including women and minority business owners, can obtain contracts with state and local governments."