CELORON–Any legislative body would benefit from collectively having members with many qualities.

One of them is diverse professional experience.

At any given time in history, many people could fit that bill in one way or another.

Here’s one for this time in history: With crime having increased in New York and throughout the country, wouldn’t it be good if the United States Senate had someone with extensive experience in law enforcement and private security?

Wouldn’t it be particularly good if that person came from New York?

Meet Mike Sapraicone, 2024 candidate for the United States Senate from, yes, New York.

And, yes, since you were wondering, that’s pronounced SAP-ri-cone.

This Queens native and Nassau County resident is visiting every county in New York, including those in the western Southern Tier.

Talking with him late on a summer evening on the patio of the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel after a local event, one easily sees his engaging personality is combined with a careful, measured toughness, two traits that serve a candidate and a legislative-body member well.

He may well have developed both traits during his 20 years with the New York City police department. Imagine working there, to the extent you even can.

According to Sapraicone’s campaign website, he joined the department in 1980, became a transit officer on the New York City subway, and later became a first-grade detective.

After retiring from the department, he founded Squad Security to provide private security to New York-based companies, including the American Stock Exchange. Squad Security has grown to employing more than 600 active and retired members of law enforcement.

He has chaired the board of trustees at his alma mater, Holy Cross High School; been school-board president for the Seaford Union Free School District; been a senior trustee of the Museum of American Armor in Old Bethpage; and been on the boards of Tomorrow’s Hope Foundation, Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital, Catholic Youth Organization, and the Columbus Citizens Foundation.

His campaign website highlights five sets of issues to pursue in the Senate:

≤ Public safety: Standing “with law enforcement to ensure our police officers are fully supported and have the resources they need to keep our communities safe,” requiring New York “to repeal the cashless bail law that is responsible for releasing dangerous criminals back onto our streets,” and “preventing local governments from defunding their police departments.”

≤ Border security: Securing “our border and stop(ping) the tidal wave of illegal ()migrants and deadly fentanyl pouring across the southern border.”

≤ Affordability: Combating inflation, restoring the deductibility of state and local taxes, and easing the tax burden on homeowners and other taxpayers.

≤ Quality of life: Supporting “our public schools, hospitals, and environmental treasures to ensure New York continues to be a great place to live, work, and raise a family,” while “defend(ing) Social Security and Medicare to provide seniors with benefits they have earned.”

≤ Integrity in government: Having term limits for U.S. senators and representatives.

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In short, Sapraicone says he’s advocating “common sense”: “We lack that. We lack that in this state. We lack that in this country.”

He also cites the need to bring back business, agriculture, and jobs. “We need to bring President Trump back to lead this country,” he said. “I will care about everybody in New York.”

He’s particularly passionate about the state Parole Commission’s having released “42 cop killers” in recent years. Because of them, he notes, some children will never know parents.

Of the releases, he asks, “Who is the parole board to make that decision?

“We don’t cherish the lives of our police officers.”

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So what is he doing to win this race?

“Hard work pulls everything off,” he said. As he campaigns across New York, this husband of a state Supreme Court justice works hard to reach out and engage people. “It’s been a lot of fun.”

That approach is serving him well. When a candidate is working hard and having fun, it shows, and that spirit spreads.

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For more on the 2024 presidential election, see the interview of Dr. Randy Elf at 0:15.10 to 0:17.10 of https://works.bepress.com/elf/310.

COPYRIGHT (c) 2024 BY RANDY ELF