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An Interview with Ricky LaRosa

Candidate for the Nassau County Legislature, District # 1

Nassau County Legislature candidate Ricky LaRosa (R-C-RTL) conceding defeat at a press
conference at La Palma Restaurant II in Freeport, New York in the presence of his supporters,
family and Channel 12 News TV on September 10, 2002

Published in LATIN LONG ISLAND MAGAZINE the October 2003 Issue


(This is the original unedited version.)

By Hugo Barriga - freelance writer

Ricky LaRosa needs little introduction in the body politic of Long Island. After
only tens years working for the community at-large, in general and the
Hispanics, in particular, Ricky has become one of the most respected – and
feared – leaders around. With Ricky there are no in between, people either love
him or hate him. It is because he arouses many sentiments with his passionate
convictions and his raw, uncensored speech.

Ricky stopped complaining about the political status quo with his first campaign
in 2000 when he ran for the Hempstead School Board. In 2002, he ran for the
Uniondale School Board and the Nassau County Legislature District One,
representing Uniondale, Roosevelt and parts of Freeport, Baldwin, Hempstead
and East Meadow. Again in 2003 he ran for the Uniondale School Board. He has
experienced four consecutive election defeats.

Many candidates usually quit politics after two defeats but not Ricky. He says
that as long as he is alive he will continue participating as a candidate for public
office. He says that as a leader he must be an example to the Hispanic
community that only those who endure and struggle amidst defeats eventually
triumph. Presently, he is in his unprecedented fifth campaign again for county
legislator. At 41 years old, Ricky has shown courage under fire, humility in
defeat, and a tenacious strength against all odds making him a leader for all
seasons.

Why were you chosen to run for county legislator again after last year’s 1 to 5
margin defeat?

LaRosa: “I can not speak for the Republican leadership nor am I privileged to the
selection process. However, I have been told by many in the party that they were
very pleased with my performance and that I represented the party well. I
believe I did fine and I am very proud to represent my party again.”

What are the attributes needed to become a good and effective legislator?

LaRosa: “Most important, a legislator needs to be a good listener. During this


campaign I have knocked on many doors meeting and greeting the residents of
my district. I have been so honored to have this opportunity. I listen, listen, and
listen. Then I give then my card, which has my home number, and assure them
that if elected I will not hide behind an office but that they will have direct access
to me. I tell them that I don’t have all the answers but they can be certain that as
their legislator their concerns will be heard in the Nassau County Legislature.”

You dissented from President Bush’s decision to invade Iraq; a president of


you own party. Why did you make public your dissent in an article published
in the COMMUNIY JOURNAL (November 2001) and what was the response
of the Republican leadership?
LaRosa: “As a Gnostic Christian I have a moral duty to speak out against
injustices in all its forms. As a community leader and the people’s advocate, I
have an ethical duty to speak truth to power, even if they are in my own party. I
see great dangers that place our country and its people in harms way because of
foreign policies that have been sabotaged by persons in the Bush administration.
These officials have deceived President Bush with lies to implement policies that
benefit corporations of which they have business connections, directly out of the
oil industry. The officials that have hidden agendas and not the nation’s best
interest are some of the following: Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz,
Undersecretary of State John Bolton, Stephen Cambone who is head of the
Pentagon’s Office of Program, Analysis and Evaluation. Eliot Cohen and Devon
Cross who are members of the Defense Policy Board, which advises Rumsfeld,
Lewis Libby who is chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, and Dov
Zakheim who is comptroller for the Defense Department, National Security
Adviser Condoleezza Rice who was on the board of directors of Chevron. These
officials have great conflict of interests and have no place in Washington
pretending to advise the president on behalf of the American people. The worst
is Vice-President Dick Cheney who was CEO of Halliburton Oil Services. Under
Cheney’s leadership Halliburton made deals with Iraq worth $73 million to
rebuild Iraq’s war and sanction torn oil infrastructure. The American people
demand a full investigation of this conflict of interest and in my view Cheney
must resign for the nation’s good or risk impeachment.”

Do you support the Bush Administration’s war on terror?

LaRosa: “To the extent that the same group of people I just mentioned are the
same that are conceiving and implementing policies that benefit their corporate
associates and have nothing to do with the national security of our nation, I must
honestly say that I don’t believe there exists a true war on terrorism. These rogue
officials have used the tragedy of 9/11 as a pretext for their so-called war on
terrorism. This places every American in great danger. Unfortunately, for
President Bush and the nation, persons who have lied to him and who have
deceived the American people for their own personal gain have sabotaged his
administration and our nation’s foreign policies.”
How do you answer your critics who say that you don’t belong in the
Republican Party and call you unpatriotic?

LaRosa: “Dissenting is one of the most patriotic acts a person can engage in. I am
100% loyal to my party and I love America. Where else in the world can the son
of a janitor grow up and have a chance of becoming the people’s representative
in the legislative body? I dissent when I believe policies are harmful to our
nation. My critics should grow a backbone one day and experience how great it
feels to tell the truth.”

Would you share a final message to our readers?

LaRosa: “I ask your readers to pray for our nation, for our troops in harms way,
and for our president. May our Lord given him light to see the truth and the
courage to admit that he was wrong and reverse those foreign policies which
place our troops and our people in grave danger of death and destruction. Thank
you.”

Campaign photos:
Channel 12 News TV debate transmitted live on September 5, 2002

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