Diane Neal
Diane Neal (independent) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent New York's 19th Congressional District. She lost in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Neal completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2018. Click here to read the survey answers.
In August 2018, the New York State Board of Elections rejected 1,852 of the 4,181 signatures submitted by Neal's campaign to place her on the general election ballot. The campaign needed to submit at least 3,500 valid signatures. Neal's campaign appealed to the state Supreme Court, and the court ruled in favor of her campaign on September 17, 2018.[1][2]
Elections
2018
General election
General election for U.S. House New York District 19
Antonio Delgado defeated incumbent John Faso, Steven Greenfield, and Diane Neal in the general election for U.S. House New York District 19 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Antonio Delgado (D) | 51.4 | 147,873 | |
| John Faso (R) | 46.2 | 132,873 | ||
| Steven Greenfield (G) | 1.5 | 4,313 | ||
| Diane Neal (Independent) | 1.0 | 2,835 | ||
| Total votes: 287,894 (100.00% precincts reporting) | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Victoria Alexander (L)
- Chad McEvoy (Women's Equality Party)
- Dal LaMagna (Independent)
- Luisa Parker (Independent)
- Bob Cohen (Working Families Party)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House New York District 19
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. House New York District 19 on June 26, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Antonio Delgado | 22.1 | 8,576 | |
| Pat Ryan | 17.9 | 6,941 | ||
| Gareth Rhodes | 17.8 | 6,890 | ||
| Brian Flynn | 13.5 | 5,245 | ||
| Jeff Beals | 12.9 | 4,991 | ||
| David Clegg | 11.0 | 4,257 | ||
| Erin Collier | 4.9 | 1,908 | ||
| Total votes: 38,808 | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House New York District 19
Incumbent John Faso advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House New York District 19 on June 26, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | John Faso | |
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Green primary election
Green primary for U.S. House New York District 19
Steven Greenfield advanced from the Green primary for U.S. House New York District 19 on June 26, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Steven Greenfield | |
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Working Families Party primary election
Working Families Party primary for U.S. House New York District 19
Bob Cohen advanced from the Working Families Party primary for U.S. House New York District 19 on June 26, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Bob Cohen | |
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Campaign themes
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Diane Neal completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Neal's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
Infrastructure upgrades and additional roads, bridges and rail lines and stops are a major necessity in my district. In addition, despite being only 70 miles at our closest point to NYC, we lack affordable, available and reliable cell and internet service. This lack of information infrastructure hobbles students, business owners and regular citizens alike in all aspects of daily life. It's unacceptable and needs to change as fast as possible. I would like to see the Hudson Valley and the other regions of NY19 become the Silicon Valley of renewable energy sources. The natural elements are aligned here in our favor for hydro electric, solar and wind power. Coupled with our district wide (and across all political ideologies) concern for the environment focusing on renewables is not only a smart option for preserving the purity of our common home, but will provide income and tens of thousands of jobs across skill levels and over from short-term construction jobs to long-term maintenance and engineering careers.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
International relations and national defense strategy and policy. Veterans affairs. Education.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
RFK, MLK, Carl Sagan, Rod Serling.
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
The Sermon on the Mount (see the synoptic gospels). Sedgewick "The Methods of Ethics".
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Empathy, reason and integrity.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
I am unconcerned with fame, as it isn't real. I am uncorruptable. I can't be bought. I know that life is short and service to one's fellow man is not only a worthy pursuit, but necessary for a successful life. I am a fast study and love to learn. I am fair. I love my friends and neighbors, and I'll be absolutely tenacious fighting for them and all others in my district with all the tools at my disposal.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
To be a vocal and intelligent advocate for the voters and constituents, not for special interests and big money.
What legacy would you like to leave?
As far as a legacy in elected office, the greatest I could hope for is to leave one of civility and understanding, intelligence and effectiveness all while showing the many others who will hopefully follow a similar path of ethical entry into public service that it is possible. I would like others to know that one can win a seat in the House of Representatives without being bought and paid for, without being beholden to party whims, while still being able to serve the people of one's home well and in a manner that can be respected.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
I remember being very, very young...around age 5 or six...and while living in Washington D.C. (my dad was a Federal attorney), and watching in real time the coverage of the passenger plane that crashed into a bridge and into the Potomac river. It was around rush hour. I recall being very concerned about my father, wondering if he was on the bridge, if he was okay. I remember the one man who had been on the bridge who dove into the icy river saving one passenger after another, time after time swimming back out rescuing people he did not know, until spent he finally slipped under the frigid water to be seen no more. It was the ultimate act of service for his fellow man.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
When I was 14 I was a presser in a dry cleaners. In the back of the store. In the summer. It was hot, smelly and very hard work. But with the money I made and saved I bought my first stereo with enough money left over for a single CD that I played over and over on it.
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
Thanksgiving. Despite its questionable origins, Thanksgiving is about family, food, bounty and gratitude without the commercialism of most other holidays. What could be better than a turkey leg, stuffing and some cranberry sauce?
What is your favorite book? Why?
Moby Dick. It is by far the funniest book ever written.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
I am fortunate enough to actually get to be many of the fictional characters that I admire and would have loved to be. I have also also always wanted to be Diana Prince. For all the obvious reasons, of course. And the Golden Lasso of Truth would be incredibly handy in Congress.
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
My ancient coin of Alexander the Great because it reminds me to think big, learn from Aristotle and Homer and be brave in conquering whatever world is in need of conquering currently - whether injustice, ignorance or incivility. It also fits in my pocket.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
If I name it here, it will pop back in my head and I will not be happy about that. But, nice try.
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
Everything has been a struggle. It is the same for most of us. Life is hard, complex and in a state of constant flux. But all things that are worthwhile are. And we endure, strive on, with a smile and a dedication to improving ourselves, our lot and the lives of those around us.
What process do you favor for redistricting?
I favor redistricting based on a combination of logical outlines (an actual square, for example) and compactness of area to ensure that constituents live as closely to one another as possible. As well, based on rational district lines, voters will not be cherry-picked out to favor one party or another in either ideological direction.
What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?
Over the last few years the most unique attributes for the House as a body is overwhelming gridlock and partisan showboating. Neither of which it should be known for.
Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?
Yes and no. Experience can be important, but life experience is also important. Our Republic was intended that men and women would "put down the plow" and enter public service for a time, returning to their lives after serving for a time. Our government was not intended to be populated with professional politicians and life-long bureaucrats, it was meant to be populated with citizens.
What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?
Internally I believe the increasing factionalism, if not remedied, will be our nation's downfall. The only thing that can bring down a superpower is itself. Also, the widening divide between the rich and the poor, the dominance of grievance politics and the deteriorating health of the nation that costs us dearly. Externally our relationships with other nations are frayed and we are beginning to see cracks in global alliances that will only cost us more in terms of human life and resources.
If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?
Banking, Appropriations, Agriculture, Judicial, Veterans Affairs.
Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?
In the age of perpetual campaigning and endless fundraising, I am not sure lengthening a House term would make anything different as far as service to ones constituents and the district as a whole. If and when Citizens United is overturned, which amplified the derogatory effect of money in politics, which is the source of many of the problems in governance, term length would be worth revisiting.
What are your thoughts on term limits?
I believe term limits, for all elected offices, should be mandatory.
Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?
There are many that I would use as examples of what not to do.
Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?
The husband of a former fellow independent candidate has stage four lung cancer. He also has no health insurance. He recently needed a PET scan and the cost was quoted to him as $600. He joked, in only the way those in terrible positions can, that he only had $6.50 in the bank and the electric bill was due...the PET scan would have to wait. No one should have to make a choice like that. Unfortunately, most of us do.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
- United States House of Representatives
- New York's 19th Congressional District election, 2018
- New York's 19th Congressional District
External links
Footnotes
