Brian Kavanagh vs. Anthony Arias vs. Stuart Avrick
Republican challenger Anthony Arias and Conservative challenger Stuart Avrick are looking to unseat the freshman incumbent, Democrat Brian Kavanagh, who switched houses after a January special election that put him in Albany’s upper chamber to represent parts of Brooklyn Heights, Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Dumbo, Cobble Hill, and Carroll Gardens. This is Kavanagh’s first general election as a newly elected state Senator, and his Republican opponent may have even more left-leaning ideas than the incumbent.
Kavanagh
• 11-year Albany veteran.
• Previously represented parts of Manhattan for six terms in the Assembly.
• Lives in Manhattan.
• Has a law degree.
• Founder and chairman of American State Legislators for Gun Violence Prevention, co-chairman of New York Legislators for Gun Violence Prevention.
Arias
• Political outsider who identifies as a “Teddy Roosevelt Republican.”
• Lives in Manhattan.
• Wants a moratorium on luxury development, a carbon tax to fund mass transit, and a rental tax credit that would be deductible from state income taxes for renters.
• Owns two private businesses, one in government contracting and the other in financial services.
Avrick
• Ran for New York City comptroller in 2009.
• Lives in Manhattan.
• Chief Financial Officer at private company Design Distributors.
Issues
• Affordable housing.
• Transportation, including the looming L train closure and reconstruction of the Brooklyn–Queens Expressway.
• Improving service on the beleaguered state-run subway system.
• Election and campaign-finance reform.
• Taxes.
• Combatting gun violence.
