State Assemblyman Ed Ra, who is running for re-election for a seventh term in the 19th District on the Republican and Conservative Party lines, uses a word seldom heard in discussions on bail reform – “nuance.”
In this case, Ra believes this nuance should come in the form of giving judges more discretion.
Whether or not we agree with the need for additional judicial discretion, we appreciate Ra’s measured approach at a time when many other Republicans are calling for a return to a broken bail system that imprisoned tens of thousands of people, overwhelmingly black and brown, accused of committing misdemeanors and non-violent felonies simply because they were poor.
This measured approach is something that characterizes Ra’s way of handling the job of assemblyman and makes him an effective representative in an Assembly controlled by Democrats with a large majority.
At age 40 with six terms already under his belt, Ra has the added advantage of serving as the ranking minority member on the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, which vets bills with fiscal implications.
Previously, he served as assistant minority leader pro tempore and as the ranking member of the Assembly Education Committee.
These leadership positions and his 12 years in the Legislature give him the ability to represent Long Island in an Assembly dominated by New York City representatives.
Ra said bail reform has become a catch-all for a broader set of policies that he says has contributed to an increase in crime.
But he did not support the legislation passed after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a more than century-old New York law that tightly restricted the concealed carry of firearms.
“There were good ideas in there, I have no problem with requiring training and certain locations being off-limits for carrying but some of that went too far,” Ra said.
Likewise, Ra opposed the Reproductive Health Act that expanded abortion rights in New York State because he said it did far more than codify Roe v. Wade, removing a “host of protections” for the fetus.
He said this included how the health of the mother was defined in allowing late-term abortions.
We believe this decision should be left with a woman and her physician. Not politicians.
Ra is opposed by Sanjeev Jindal, who is running on the Democratic Party line.
Jindal, worked in a liquor store and drove a taxi cab before becoming a trained engineer and starting his own business. He was a candidate in the Democratic primary for the New York City Council District. 23.
He has run, at best, a low-key campaign.
He is a supporter of a woman’s right to choose, affordable healthcare for all and ending gun violence, according to his campaign website.
He said he also supports lowering taxes and lessening regulations for small businesses, affordability and expanding science and technology programs in schools and curriculum that improves literacy, reading, writing and emphasizing the arts.
Ra is a lifelong resident of his district with the knowledge and temperament to work across party lines to represent Long Island well.
We strongly endorse Ed Ra for re-election.