Thomas Sullivan
RepublicanQ1 Data centers are a controversial part of America’s growing AI industry, supporting cutting-edge innovation and potential job creation, but raising issues of resource use and utility costs. New York now has a moratorium on data center construction. At the same time, state tax law grants tax exemptions to equipment and services used by data centers, which some proposed legislation would repeal. What do you see as the right balance of costs and benefits for new data center construction in New York, and how would your policies accomplish that balance?
New York should welcome data centers under certain conditions. I oppose the moratorium, would oppose making it permanent, and support predictable permitting. However, data centers should fund the generation and transmission they require so those costs aren’t shifted onto households. They should also meet standards for efficiency and use union and local labor. I wouldn’t repeal the tax exemptions provided that these conditions are in place, that clawbacks are in place, and that job growth is visible. If both power supply and ratepayers are protected, data centers can be positive for New York.
KEYWORDS: Opportunity; ratepayer protection; supply protection; incentives.
Q2 New York currently generates about 47% of its energy from low carbon sources including nuclear, hydropower, and wind and solar, with the remainder coming from combustion sources (natural gas, oil, biofuel, and solid waste). While New York committed to shifting to low-carbon energy sources and emissions reductions in passing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), Governor Hochul recently moved to delay implementation of several components of the state’s climate law to December 31, 2028. As concerns about energy costs, reliability, and emissions grow, what energy sources would you prioritize, under what timeline, and what evidence would guide that decision?
I support maximizing low carbon sources, and minimizing combustion sources, to the extent that doing so is not a burden on New Yorkers. Governor Hochul herself wrote that New York’s climate targets could not be met without “crushing costs on New York businesses and residents.” To that end, my priority is nuclear power. I would extend licenses where it is safe and build new reactors where workforces already exist. I also support hydropower, solar and wind where they are cost-effective. However, New York has too often scheduled shutdowns before replacements were permitted or financed. I support Governor Hochul’s delay of several CLCPA components and would eliminate rigid deadlines. The evidence that should guide these decisions is grid operators’ reliability assessments, ratepayer cost impacts, emissions results, and delivery timelines.
KEYWORDS: Nuclear power; reliability first; affordable energy
Q3 Young adults say that social media is their top source of science information, but acknowledge that it is less trustworthy compared to other sources. In addition, the widespread usage of social media and other sources of scientific information has resulted in the spread of misinformation that has spurred public education policies to curb it, such as a NYC vaccine misinformation legislation. What role should public education play in combatting misinformation and disseminating trustworthy, up to date scientific information to students and their families?
I support a renewed focus on science and technology instruction, greater access to STEM programs, and media-literacy skills built into existing coursework. Students should graduate with strong foundations in reading, mathematics, and science; teachers need up-to-date materials and training; and schools should give families accessible information so parents can stay involved in what their children learn. Public education’s most important job is teaching students how to think, not what to think. The best defense against misinformation is a public that knows how to weigh evidence, and I am cautious about laws that put the government in charge of deciding what counts as misinformation.
KEYWORDS: Critical thinking; STEM education; parental involvement
Q4 Pesticides are widely used in food production to help manage pests and support crop yields, but ongoing debates over their safety have raised questions about their long-term use and led to proposals to restrict certain pesticides. What data and evidence will you use to weigh the role of these products in food security against safety concerns when shaping policy on their use in New York agriculture?
I would weigh peer-reviewed toxicology and epidemiological research, federal and state risk assessments, residue monitoring in food and water, worker-exposure data, and data on crop losses, costs, and available alternatives. I would also want input from farmers, agricultural researchers, and public-health experts before the state acts. Where strong evidence shows that a product poses serious risks that can’t be managed, the state should restrict it, with a reasonable transition period for farmers. Where the evidence is mixed, I would favor targeted measures such as application standards, buffer zones near water and schools, and integrated pest management over blanket bans that raise food costs.
KEYWORDS: Evidence-based regulation; food security; farmer input
Q5 New York has the second largest international student population of any U.S. state, the majority of which study in STEM fields. The federal government is pursuing largescale changes to student visa approval, including increased visa denials, revoking existing visas, restricting travel from certain countries, and decreasing student visa durations. How, if at all, should New York respond to federal visa changes affecting international STEM students and researchers, and the resulting projected changes in the scientific workforce supply?
Immigration policy is a federal responsibility, but New York should work to keep the scientific talent in our universities and research institutions. I support a lawful immigration system that rewards exceptional skill rather than cheap labor, and international students and researchers doing advanced STEM work fit that description. The state should press our federal delegation for timely, predictable visa processing for qualified students and researchers. New York should also help institutions navigate federal changes and help eligible graduates move into in-state research and industry jobs. At the same time, the state should invest in its own STEM workforce through stronger K-12 science and math, and more access to STEM programs and apprenticeships.
KEYWORDS: Talent; STEM; competitiveness
Q6 Extreme weather events are increasingly impacting farmland and food supplies across NY, including up to 30 million dollars in damages to farmer livelihoods. This has prompted the USDA to designate 30 counties in New York as Natural Disaster Areas. What policies, if any, would you support to help farmers adapt to and prepare for increasingly erratic weather?
I would support state help with crop-insurance premiums and outreach so that more farmers are covered before disaster strikes. I would also support investment in drainage, irrigation, and water-management infrastructure, along with cost-share programs for proven practices such as soil health, cover crops, and on-farm water storage. Agricultural research and extension services should give farmers better local weather data, resilient crop varieties, and practical guidance. After a declared emergency, farmers should have faster, simpler access to state disaster aid. I also support a coordinated state approach to resilience planning that treats agriculture as critical infrastructure.
KEYWORDS: Disaster aid; crop insurance; agricultural resilience; water infrastructure
Q7 Law enforcement agencies across New York have contracted with Flock to install Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras as a public safety tool. The technology is receiving pushback over concerns over privacy and data sharing, resulting in city councilors in Syracuse voting to remove Flock cameras. What are your views on accessibility and utilization of ALPR data by local and federal law enforcement, and what legislation, if any, would you propose governing how ALPR data is collected, stored, shared and retained?
License-plate readers are a valuable public-safety tool, and I support law enforcement’s use of them under clear rules. I would support legislation that limits retention of data that doesn’t match a stolen vehicle, warrant, or active investigation, and that requires strong cybersecurity standards to protect stored data. Access should be tied to a legitimate law-enforcement purpose and logged, with regular audits and penalties for misuse. Agencies, including federal partners, should be able to share data for criminal investigations through case-specific requests rather than bulk access. The data should never be sold or used for commercial purposes.
KEYWORDS: Public safety; privacy guardrails; data retention limits.
Q8 Smoke from Canadian wildfires in recent summers has pushed New York air quality to unhealthy levels. The long-term consequences, if any, of these wildfires are unknown: Short-term data show a rise in asthma-related emergency department visits during smoke events, though some studies suggest the increase is comparable to that seen on high-pollen days. With extreme wildfire seasons projected to become more frequent as global temperatures rise, what measures, if any, do you think New York should invest in to prepare for future smoke events?
New York should invest in practical and low-cost preparation for smoke events. I would prioritize expanded air-quality monitoring and consistent alerts by text, through the media, and through schools, so that vulnerable residents can take precautions early. Schools, senior centers, and public buildings should have adequate air filtration, and the state should set clear guidance on when to move activities indoors or adjust outdoor work. Because the long-term health effects aren’t yet well understood, New York should support research that tracks outcomes so that future investments follow the evidence.
KEYWORDS: Alerts; vulnerable populations; filtration in public buildings
Q9 New York is the second largest recipient of funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Proposed federal budgets would significantly reduce NIH funds going to New York hospitals, universities, and research institutions. Where do you stand on the proposed changes to NIH funding levels, and what steps, if any, would you take to address their potential effect on New York’s research sector?
I support accountability and efficiency in federal research spending, but I oppose abrupt, deep cuts to biomedical research, which would cost New York jobs and slow treatments for patients. I would encourage our congressional delegation, in both parties, to protect stable funding for high-value research while pursuing reforms such as reducing administrative overhead. At the state level, I would support partnerships between universities, hospitals, and private industry, support for commercializing discoveries made in New York, and smart use of existing state programs to connect projects.
KEYWORDS: Research jobs; patient care; accountability