ASSEMBLYMAN JOE DESTEFANO

A LIFETIME OF COMMUNITY SERVICE

Dedicated to making his community a better, safer, and more affordable place, Assemblyman Joe DeStefano has devoted his life to serving his neighbors.

His public service career started in 1980 when he volunteered with the Medford Fire Department and he has been answering calls ever since. For the past 27 years, he's served as a fire district Commissioner having also held the positions of Fire Police Lieutenant, 2nd Lieutenant, Department Recording Secretary, Department Vice President, and Department President. He's also served with the Medford Volunteer Ambulance for last 38 years.

Joe was a Public Safety Communication Supervisor in the Suffolk Sheriff's office where he managed the day-to-day operations of the dispatchers as well as supervised radio communications and other vital functions for 27 years. Enjoying widespread support from the working men and women of his district, he was the Unit President of the Sheriffs/Probation Civilian Unit, representing more than 200 Suffolk County Association of Municipal Employees members.

The Suffolk County Fire District Officers' Association named Joe "Commissioner of the Year" in 2017 and over the years, he's held numerous other roles including Suffolk County Fire District Officers' Association Secretary and Treasurer, Brookhaven Town Fire Districts President, and Regional Director, Secretary and Treasurer of the New York State Association of Fire Districts.

Joe is a 1978 graduate of Patchogue/Medford High School and earned an Associate Degree in Business Management from Suffolk Community College. He is a long-time member of the Medford Civic Association and the Medford Chamber of Commerce. He was the district manager of the Riverhead Fire District and is a life member of both the Medford Fire Department and Ambulance company.

Now representing the people of central Brookhaven Township, Joe fights for safer neighborhoods, stronger communities, and preserving the property tax cap while pushing Albany to curb spending. He is a proud supporter of the fire services, law enforcement and our military and stands squarely against Defund the Police; he has been at the forefront of the battle to repeal the state's dangerous bail laws, cut the state's gas tax, and fight inflation. He is a steady voice against the policies of the tax-and-spend Progressive Democrats. Taxpayers across his district count him as an ally and know they can turn to him for assistance on governmental and community issues.

He is the ranking member of the Assembly Committee on Governmental Employees and a member of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Aging, Labor and Transportation Committees.

Joe was first elected to the New York State Assembly in 2018 and will ask the voters to reelect him for a third term based on his strong constituent service, community leadership, and unwavering support for all the residents, organizations and businesses in his district.

A resident of the 3rd Assembly District for 50 years, Joe and his wife, Linda, have two children and two grandchildren. His district includes all or parts of the communities of Bellport, Brookhaven, North Patchogue, Mastic, Mastic Beach, Medford, Middle Island, Ridge, Shirley, and Yaphank.