In November 2002, The Honorable Andrew Garbarino ’09 was elected to the U.S. Congress, the first Hofstra Law alumnus to achieve this extraordinary milestone. Now representing New York’s Second Congressional district, Mr. Garbarino previously served in the New York State Assembly, where he represented the 7th district for four terms. Mr. Garbarino discussed his career with the Law School:
When you applied to Law School, did you know your ultimate goal was to work in politics?
Although I have always enjoyed politics and had worked on campaigns before, when I applied to law school, I never planned to run for the State Assembly or for Congress. I went to law school so I could work at my family law firm and become a practicing attorney.
How did your Hofstra Law education shape your career, first as an attorney and then as a member of the NYS Assembly?
My education at Hofstra granted me a different perspective when looking at the issues facing our community. My law education gave me a great foundation to be a practicing attorney and also equipped me to read and write legislation in the State Assembly in a way that makes the law work practically for real people, not just in theory.
How does your background as an attorney give you an edge as a congressperson? Are there any specific skills you use on a regular basis that directly benefit from your experience as an attorney?
Having been a practicing attorney, I saw firsthand how laws and regulations can affect people on a day-to-day basis, both positively and negatively. As a congressman, this allows me to work to fix ill-fated laws that may have been passed with the best intentions, but don’t work practically as currently written.
As a newly elected Member of Congress, what are some of your key goals and challenges?
Entering congress during a pandemic has presented a unique set of challenges, but that hasn’t deterred me from getting to work for my constituents. Repealing the SALT cap is one of my top priorities in congress which is why I co-founded the bipartisan SALT Caucus. The SALT cap unfairly penalizes working class Long Islanders, and I am committed to working across the aisle to restore the deduction.
What advice do you have for students or alumni who desire a career in politics?
Get involved locally. I started working on campaigns when I was in high school and I would encourage anyone interested in politics to do the same. All politics is local. You have to start somewhere and local campaigns are a great way to do it.
As a proud Long Islander, what do you love most about the region Hofstra calls home?
As a lifelong Long Islander, I can’t think of a better place to call home. From beaches to bustling downtown communities to wide open golf courses, Long Island has everything you could want in a place to live. We get the best of all four seasons and there is always plenty to do. On top of it all, there is a strong sense of family and community here that is undeniable. I am proud to live in and work for this region.
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