William Van Helmond
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William Van Helmond (Libertarian Party) ran for election to the New York State Assembly to represent District 2. He lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.
Van Helmond completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
William Van Helmond was born in Middle Island, New York. His professional experience includes working as a business owner in the landscaping property management industry and teaching an adult education course at Boces. Van Helmond has served in over 30 nonprofit community-oriented organizations. He has served with Matituck Lions, as a president and Paul Harris fellow of Rotary, as a board member of the North Fork chamber of commerce, as a member of the Riverhead Chamber of Commerce, as a member of the board of directors for the Vail Levitt Musical, as a committee person for Riverhead's 225th anniversary, as a president of the greater Jamesport Civic Association, as a member of the Elks Club, as a member of the Moose Lodge, as a member of the New York State Historical Rural Route Main Rd Committee, as a member of Epcal Watch, and as a member of the North Fork Environmental Council. Van Helmond also produces radio shows about Riverhead's history on local radio stations.[1]
Elections
2020
See also: New York State Assembly elections, 2020
General election
General election for New York State Assembly District 2
Jodi Giglio defeated Laura Jens-Smith and William Van Helmond in the general election for New York State Assembly District 2 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Jodi Giglio (R / Conservative Party / Independence Party) | 56.3 | 39,851 |
| Laura Jens-Smith (D / Working Families Party) | 42.4 | 29,966 | ||
 | William Van Helmond (L)  | 1.3 | 925 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 6 | ||
| Total votes: 70,748 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for New York State Assembly District 2
Laura Jens-Smith defeated William Schleisner in the Democratic primary for New York State Assembly District 2 on June 23, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Laura Jens-Smith | 76.0 | 6,743 | |
| William Schleisner | 23.9 | 2,124 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 9 | ||
| Total votes: 8,876 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Jodi Giglio advanced from the Republican primary for New York State Assembly District 2.
Conservative Party primary election
The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. Jodi Giglio advanced from the Conservative Party primary for New York State Assembly District 2.
Independence Party primary election
The Independence Party primary election was canceled. Jodi Giglio advanced from the Independence Party primary for New York State Assembly District 2.
Libertarian primary election
The Libertarian primary election was canceled. William Van Helmond advanced from the Libertarian primary for New York State Assembly District 2.
Working Families Party primary election
The Working Families Party primary election was canceled. Laura Jens-Smith advanced from the Working Families Party primary for New York State Assembly District 2.
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
William Van Helmond completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Van Helmond's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am an independent conservative small business owner for 39 years, I'm also very active in my community serving in many nonprofits and running many as president. I'm concerned about the rural character of the assembly to District. I'm proactive in finding solutions, And I believe in the doctrine of free will- where you the taxpayer can make more decisions for yourself in your life then government making them for you. I'd like to see government involvement reduced in your daily life as well as more accountability for your money that they spend. I will provide long term solutions with common sense approach. Thank you for viewing my profile here on Ballotpedia.
- I have no vested interest as well as party controls in my campaign. So I can work for the masses and vote with my heart for you
- I want to run to New York State assembly District 2 as I've run my business where I work for you!
- I'd like to create unity in this position not only with fellow colleagues with the public it's self especially. Where we all work together to find solutions that makes sense and are cost-effective
I am a big history buff, and there is a tremendous amount of history in New York State since the beginning of our nation where New York State was the initial capital before Washington DC during the time between the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution which was about 10 years! I'd also like to see our young adults having the ability to stay as I am a father of four daughters. Affordability and good paying jobs need to be addressed with a long-term solution. Or schooling system in the foundation need needs to be implemented better for our area as it is in other populated areas of our state. We also need to address healthcare and bring that back to you the Voter to create competition to drive prices down. Elder care needs to be addressed so it's not warehousing of our senior population. We should never forget Our veterans and all our first responders who are the true heroes of our state! I'm very concerned about the rural character of our smaller communities here in the second district and do not want to see over development from larger corporations impeding and putting our small businesses out of business - small businesses built our country and many of them like myself give back to their communities in many ways that's why it's called a community!
Well I am a Eucharistic minister and a active member of my Parrish for over 24 years where I've served as a reader, Usher and served on the vestry. So my example would be our Lord! Although I fall Way short of our creator-I do improve every day and with the abilities that he provides each and everyone of us there is hope and growth. We should all always respect each other and serve each other in unity, constancy and peace.
I have no political philosophy as I'm a small business owner so if we're going to talk about a book to be successful anything from Dale Carnegie and maybe he should've been a politician. I feel being a politician is not the correct way that your representative should be labeled. She or He should be your representative.
I believe I touched upon this several times but an elected official represents all the voters never vested interest. As your elected official listening to concerns is vital, understanding the concerns is important then implementing them in a timely manner is how every concern should be handled. I also feel as your representative I will vote with my heart and what I feel is ethical but there will be times as I've experienced in my business and as a community activist in my areas where I live that my opinion at times does not matter because it's the opinions of the people who put me in office that matter! and of course one of the most important things and elected official needs to always do is be accountable for each and every penny that he saves or spends on behalf of the taxpayers
I think one of the most unique things about me is my ability and relatability to all types of people. I would consider myself a reformation type person -meaning I see things that are not working well and my intention is to make the changes and do something to put it back on the correct course and repair it. I see a lot of opportunity in this position as an elected official that is why I am applying myself for this next level in my life. I also believe in unity and respecting people as we are all equal in God's eyes
I would think the most important is the budget because the state assembly sets the budget and can lower or increase the budget. I like to see a decrease and will work diligently to make it do so
I would hope that if I am blessed to be the representative of this assembly district that whenever the time comes and I'm no longer the representative here in district 2 that I have improved the quality of life for each and every voter as well as stopped tax increases and then hopefully started reducing their taxes.
In 1976 it was a bicentennial of the declaration of independence. I was 14 years old and I remember the unity and the pride that everybody had in our country! I'd like to see that restored this year
I started mowing lawns when I was nine years old, and now I've been in business for 39 years
Not really a big book reader, but I did read dale Carnegie books. I'm more of a researcher on information I need for the problems at hand then I'm trying to attempt to solve
America by Neil Diamond
As I've mentioned a few times prior I've raised four daughters. LOL I had custody of them. Going through a divorce was certainly not pleasant but being able to raise my daughters what is the light in the darkness of that time. All four of my daughters are awesome and unique in their own way. It's been a pleasure watching them grow and become young adults that they are today!
Each chamber has different responsibilities that are different from the other, but both have a lot of common grounds which creates a check and balance between the two branches, which I would be in favor for. The fact of dominant parties which control different states or at the national level, Sometimes become their worst enemy towards each other and can never get much accomplished. Being a third-party line with none of those issues gives more back to the average voter in representation which unfortunately never seems to be in the agenda of anything occurring in government. As the dominant parties have become so powerful and wealthy they tend to hurt those they initially intended to help due to self interest. Getting more party involvement in an election like this one and assembly 2 creates a third choice for the voter! And that's a good thing, why not four or five people for the Voter to choose from??
No I believe more small business owners should be involved because they've been accountable to their businesses and their customers since they started, my plan as a small business owner is to bring that philosophy to this position. When people spend others money that they don't earn in politics - accountability goes out the window. The mindset of a small business owner like myself is pivotal in questioning what's going on, evaluating options and necessity and then coming up with long-term solutions to implement minimizing cost to the taxpayer instead of doing Band-Aids that continuously occur.
Deficit deficit deficit, spending is out of control and way too large. We first need to stop the bleeding of spending, then start reducing it by creating unity amongst all the parties involved and taking each line item analyzing them and making sure they are efficient for the voters. I did not say eliminating services, but rubberstamping budgets and policies is not effective at all. Stopping that bleeding first and then analyzing others spending items where we can save every penny for the voter and obtain every penny for the voter will start to reduce the deficit.!
There should always be a mutual ground amongst all elected officials. Because we all are elected by the people to represent the people so once in office political party BS needs to be off the table where we all respect each other and work with each other to come up with long-term solutions for the people we all represent. Again we are elected by the people, for the people That's why they are -"We the people"
Absolutely because every person who is voted into office has a different background that they bring to the table. It is imperative that all backgrounds be utilized for the benefit of the voters! The more types of backgrounds of the elected officials the more information we all bring to the table to solve problems and create long-term solutions!
We've been using the census for quite some time, but when I decided to run for this position as a businessman I viewed the assembly versus the Senate, which are both legislative bodies of New York State. There are 63 senators, yet there are 150 assembly people . They both cover the same state. I understand that more representatives provides a small area making it more grassroots in the assembly which the intent I believe is a great idea. But as a businessman the cost and payroll and benefits for all these extra assembly people and staffing gets expensive. I thought . They both cover the same state. I understand that more representatives provides a small area making it more grassroots in the assembly which the intent I believe is a great idea. But as a businessman the cost and payroll and benefits for all these extra assembly people and staffing gets expensive. I thought that if the assembly mirrored the Senate in district size, we initially could save a lot of payroll and benefits with less assembly people! And assembly district if larger could have an assistant and add a lower payroll cost then what an assembly person makes. That's one way to redistricting
As I previously said I'm a history buff so I would like to work in any and all committees with relationship to the history of our state, currently in a nonprofit level I've been asked by a newly formed committee which is in the process of providing incentives for older Main Rd homes and businesses In my area to maintain renovation and construction so the character that is currently present remains. It's a great honor to be on this committee and although Covid has temporarily put us behind schedule it will in time become a reality.lin my area to maintain renovation and construction so the character that is currently present remains. It's a great honor to be on this committee and although Covid has temporarily put us behind schedule it will in time become a reality. Also as a father of four daughters who are all grown and out of school I now have grandchildren in the local schools in my district so I would like to be involved with all committees and avenues for foundation aid, Training for preschool personnel and possibly working out the state program for contracts with school districts by a state example where a bad administrator, teacher or other school personnel who breaks the law or has inappropriate actions with our children that the voters who pay these enormous - school tax bills-have a say on terminating these few individuals that they cannot have immunity and or settle and take pensions. Of course this terminology of a contract would be included with respected unions And the public where a compromise can benefit all
Saying this with confidence of my abilities I hope to be that model for the future!
Not at this time I really wanna focus on my district in the state in which I live
Wow there are so many. One of the reasons I live in the area I do is because there are many heroes who do things every day in the communities I live in. They do it because it's part of their character and the character of this area. There would be one that would strike me the most and I will not use names but I met this family Who has several children and one of their daughters had some brain cancer issues the strength that both the mother and father provide in love and encouragement for their daughter and the other siblings involvement is to me beyond from this world. The pressure and the daily things they have to tend with daily , Most people couldn't even imagine. This young lady has had nearly 100 surgeries but yet she still paints and expresses her feelings through her paintings which are absolutely beautiful as I've been to her studio numerous times which is set up on their property of their home! The mom works for the local news media outlet and does the area current events and is always in a positive form. The father works hard and supports his family. It makes you realize even on your darkest day how fortunate you actually are when you see what others go through but not only going through it how they handle it. God does not give anyone more than they can handle in this family is a true testament of that.
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Additional information
Van Helmond submitted the following statement to Ballotpedia:
| “ | I've had a lot of experience through my company with union projects as well as representing nonprofit groups with multiple levels of government from the town, county in New York State on projects in preservation such as Sharper Hill and re-designing an entrance into a community of Hampton Bays with landscaping to make the appearance better and re-designed the road To work better for traffic. I've had many situations of creating unity amongst different groups, businesses and government agencies[1][2] | ” |
See also
2020 Elections
External links
Footnotes
