2013 Voter Guide

Candidates for 24th City Council District

Alexander Blishteyn
Republican, Conservative

Party Enrolled In: Republican

Current Occupation: Attorney

Previous Occupation(s): Prior to being admitted to the practice of law, I have worked as a bartender, computer consultant, customer service representative, pharmacy photo lab technician, amusement park paintball operator, supermarket cashier, and as a supermarket grocery bagger at the age of 14. What has remained consistent throughout the years and the different jobs, has been my hard work and dedication, which will continue in the City Council.

Education: University of Miami, School of Law; State University of New York, Geneseo, Townsend Harris High School, Ryan JHS, I.S. 145, and P.S. 69.

Organizational Affiliations: Queens County Bar Association

Prior Public Experience:

1. What is the most important issue in Council District 24 you would address if elected?

We need an education system that is responsive to the needs of the residents of this district, and which provides parents with a choice of where to send their children. Through a comprehensive voucher system, or one that provides NYC tax credits, parents would be able to send their children to an accredited school of their choice, providing them with the same value for their tax dollars as those who send their children to public schools.

 

2. What other important issues would you address if elected?

We need to reduce the tax and regulatory burdens placed on small businesses in our city, which would free them up to hire additional workers and lower our unemployment rate. We also need to improve our quality of life, public safety and senior services in District 24, and throughout NYC.

 

3. What makes you the best candidate for this office?

What makes me "the best candidate," is that I am a citizen candiate. As a resident of this area for the past 23 years; a product of its local public schools; a patron of its local businesses; a home owner; and as of September, 2013, a parent of two children who attend the local public school, I have a personal, vested interest in the success of this district, and New York City as a whole. As a citizen candidate, I am not running for City Council because it is some sort of entitlement or consolation prize for not getting my party's support for, or being elected to some "higher office." I am running for City Council because we need someone from our community to represent our interests and beliefs, and to be our neighborhood voice, in our city government.

 

Reprinted as supplied by the candidate. Participating in the Campaign Finance Program.

 

This Guide lists all candidates who appear to be on the ballot for the primary election based on the latest information obtained from the New York City Board of Elections, even if a candidate did not submit a profile or record a video for the Guide. Profiles and video scripts were submitted to the CFB by the candidates and are reprinted as supplied, except in the case of egregious errors and minor formatting issues, which may be corrected by the CFB. Videos appearing in this Guide were recorded and approved for broadcast by the candidates. All the candidates have affirmed under penalty of perjury that the information in their profiles and videos is true to the best of their knowledge. Website and social media links were supplied by the candidates. The CFB is not responsible for non-working links, although it does correct or remove them to the extent practicable. The CFB removes links that are not campaign-related.

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Party Key
  • C = Conservative
  • D = Democratic
  • FV = Faith and Values
  • R = Republican
  • WF = Working Families