Know Your Candidates: Andrew Gounardes

November 2, 2018 Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Andrew Gounardes. Photo courtesy of Gounardes’ campaign

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This year marks the second time Andrew Gounardes, a lawyer and community leader in Bay Ridge, has challenged state Sen. Marty Golden.

The first time, in 2012, Gounardes lost to the incumbent but surprised many political observers by winning more votes than Golden in the Bay Ridge portion of the sprawling state Senate District. In fact, if the district map included only Bay Ridge, Gounardes would have been elected state senator. Golden’s strength in other areas of the district carried the day for him.

Gounardes is hoping for a different result this time around.

Gounardes is currently on leave from his post as chief counsel to Borough President Eric Adams.

On the campaign trail and in debates with Golden, Gounardes has sought to portray himself as a change agent who would bring much-needed new ideas to Albany.

His proposals include appointing a rider to represent subway passengers on the Metropolitan Transportation Board, creating a waterfront park in Bay Ridge, establishing a GI Bill for senior citizens who might want to go back to college or train for a new profession and awarding tax credits to people who serve as caregivers to ailing family members.

Gounardes, an Eagle Scout, was born and raised in Bay Ridge and has a long history of civic involvement.

He is a former member of Community Board 10 and a co-founder of Bay Ridge Cares, a non-profit group that assisted homeowners hard hit by Superstorm Sandy in 2012 and has raised money for parents whose children have cancer.

Gounardes also founded two transportation-related organizations. He formed the group Concerned R Train Riders to demand handicap accessible subway stations in Southwest Brooklyn and is a founder of Bay Ridge Advocates for Keeping Everyone Safe (B.R.A.K.E.S.), a grout fighting for speed cameras in all New York City school zones.

Gounardes is unmarried and lives in Bay Ridge. — Paula Katinas