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{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Short description|American politician (born 1994)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Josh Lafazan
| name = Josh Lafazan
|office = Member of the [[Nassau County Legislature]]<br>from the 18th district
| office = Member of the [[Nassau County Legislature]]<br />from the 18th district
|term_start = January 1, 2018
| term_start = January 1, 2018
|term_end =
| term_end = December 31, 2023
|predecessor = Donald MacKenzie
| predecessor = Donald MacKenzie
|successor =
| successor = Samantha Goetz
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|1|29}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|1|29}}
|birth_place =
| birth_place =
|death_date =
| death_date =
|death_place =
| death_place =
|party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|education = {{nowrap|[[Nassau Community College]] ([[Associate of Arts|AA]])}}<br>[[Cornell University]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])<br>[[Harvard University]] ([[Master of Education|MEd]])
| education = [[Nassau Community College]] ([[Associate of Arts|AA]])<br />[[Cornell University]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])<br />[[Harvard University]] ([[Master of Education|MEd]])<br />[[University of Pennsylvania]] ([[Doctor of Education|EdD]])
|website = {{url|joshlafazan.com|Official website}}
| website = {{URL|joshlafazan.com|Official website}}
| image = Josh Lafazan in front of a body of water.jpg
| caption = Lafazan in 2022
}}
}}
'''Joshua Alexander Lafazan''' (born January 29, 1994) is an American politician and a former member of the [[Nassau County Legislature]] from the 18th district. When elected to the [[Syosset Central School District|Syosset School Board]] in 2012, he was the youngest elected official in [[New York State]]. He was a candidate to become the Democratic nominee for [[New York's 3rd congressional district]] in the [[2022 United States House of Representatives elections in New York|2022 United States House of Representatives election]].
'''Joshua Lafazan''' (born January 29, 1994) is an American politician, author, and university professor. He is a member of the [[Nassau County Legislature|Nassau County (New York) Legislature]] from the 18th district.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://theislandnow.com/news-98/nassau-dems-pick-county-legislature-seat-lafazans-win/|title=Nassau Dems pick up County Legislature seat with Lafazan's win |date=2017-11-08|work=The Island Now|access-date=2017-11-12|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=All 19 seats up for election in Nassau legislature|url=https://www.newsday.com/long-island/politics/nassau-county-legislature-election-2021-1.50402998|access-date=2021-12-13|website=Newsday|language=en}}</ref> He is the second-youngest person to be elected in [[New York (state)|New York]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/05/16/new-syosset-school-board-member-is-nys-youngest-elected-official/|title=New Syosset School Board Member Is NY's Youngest Elected Official|date=2012-05-16|access-date=2017-11-12|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newsday.com/long-island/education/joshua-lafazan-18-elected-to-syosset-school-board-1.3719185|title=Syosset's youngest trustee: 'Feeling great'|date=May 16, 2012|work=Newsday|access-date=2017-11-12|language=en}}</ref>


==Education==
==Education==
Josh Lafazan graduated from [[Syosset High School]] in June 2012.{{Citation needed|date=September 2019}}


He attended [[Nassau Community College]] and received the [[State University of New York]] Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence.<ref>{{Cite press release | url = http://www.ncc.edu/aboutncc/newsreleases/2014newsreleases/04_april_2014/suny_chan_2014_lafazan.shtml | title = Local Resident Receives State University of N.Y. Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence | date = April 29, 2014 | website = Nassau Community College | location = Garden City, NY | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171113060043/http://www.ncc.edu/aboutncc/newsreleases/2014newsreleases/04_april_2014/suny_chan_2014_lafazan.shtml|archive-date = November 13, 2017 | url-status = dead}}</ref> He was named a recipient of the New York State School Boards Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.joshlafazan.com/about|title=Lafazan For Legislator {{!}} JoshLafazan|website=Lafazan For Legislator {{!}} JoshLafazan|access-date=2017-11-12}}</ref> Lafazan attended [[Cornell University]] for his [[Bachelor of Science]] degree and [[Harvard University]] for his [[Master of Education]] degree.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-lafazan-487b125a/|title=Josh Lafazan|last=Lafazan|first=Josh|website=LinkedIn|access-date=2017-11-12}}</ref> His campaign website states: "Josh is currently pursuing his Doctoral Degree from the University of Pennsylvania." <ref>https://www.joshlafazan.com/about/</ref>
Lafazan attended [[Nassau Community College]] and received the [[State University of New York]] Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence.<ref>{{Cite press release | url = http://www.ncc.edu/aboutncc/newsreleases/2014newsreleases/04_april_2014/suny_chan_2014_lafazan.shtml | title = Local Resident Receives State University of N.Y. Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence | date = April 29, 2014 | website = Nassau Community College | location = Garden City, NY | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171113060043/http://www.ncc.edu/aboutncc/newsreleases/2014newsreleases/04_april_2014/suny_chan_2014_lafazan.shtml|archive-date = November 13, 2017 | url-status = dead}}</ref> Lafazan attended [[Cornell University]] for his [[Bachelor of Science]] degree and [[Harvard University]] for his [[Master of Education]] degree.<ref>{{cite news |last = Novick |first = Susan M. |title = This Politician Lives in His Mom's Basement and He's Campaigning on It |newspaper = The New York Times |date = September 27, 2019 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/27/nyregion/Josh-Lafazan-Nassa-County-teenagers.html |accessdate = August 14, 2022}}</ref> He is pursuing doctoral studies at the University of Pennsylvania.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.joshlafazan.com/about/|title=Meet Josh|website=www.joshlafazan.com}}</ref>


== Career ==
== Career ==
⚫
During the latter part of his senior year of high school, Lafazan campaigned for a trustee position on the Syosset Board of Education, which he won in May of that year with 82 percent of the vote.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2012-05-16|title=Syosset Votes 18-Year-Old to School Board|language=en-US|work=Syosset, NY Patch|url=https://patch.com/new-york/syosset/difilippo-lafazan-resnick-win-boe-election-budget-passes|access-date=2017-11-12}}</ref> He was re-elected to the board in 2015 for another three-year term.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-05-19|title=Results of the 2015-2016 budget vote, and school board election|url=http://www.syossetschools.org/news/article.aspx?id=26541|access-date=2017-11-12}}</ref> Lafazan resigned from his position on the school board on December 31, 2017, based on a clause in the Nassau County Charter that provides a possible conflict with holding both positions.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://theislandnow.com/news-98/lafazan-resigns-syosset-ed-board/|title=Lafazan resigns from Syosset ed board - The Island Now|date=2018-01-02|work=The Island Now|access-date=2018-01-07|language=en-US}}</ref>


On April 26, 2013, Lafazan was elected to the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, which credited him for founding Saferide Syosset, an outreach program to help guide teenagers on how to get home when impaired.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://licadd.org/licadd-elects-joshua-lafazan-to-its-board-of-directors/|title=LICADD Elects Joshua Lafazan to its Board of Directors|last=Webmaster|first=LICADD|website=licadd.org|language=en-US|access-date=2017-11-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://patch.com/new-york/syosset/syosset-high-school-senior-starts-saferide-program|title=Syosset Student Provides 'Saferide' Home|date=2011-12-15|work=Syosset, NY Patch|access-date=2017-11-12|language=en-US}}</ref>
As a high school senior at [[Syosset High School]], he started a volunteer rideshare program to prevent [[drunk driving]] to drive teenagers home safely.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://patch.com/new-york/syosset/syosset-high-school-senior-starts-saferide-program|title=Syosset Student Provides 'Saferide' Home|date=2011-12-15|work=Syosset, NY Patch|access-date=2017-11-12|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last = Svitak |first = Adora |title = Speak Up!: Speeches by young people to empower and inspire |publisher = White Lion Publishing |year = 2020 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=KZDTDwAAQBAJ&dq=Josh+Lafazan&pg=PA110 |isbn = 9781781319505}}</ref>


⚫
During the latter part of his senior year of high school, Lafazan campaigned for a trustee position on the Syosset Board of Education. In May 2012, he won with 82 percent of the vote.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2012-05-16|title=Syosset Votes 18-Year-Old to School Board|language=en-US|work=Syosset, NY Patch|url=https://patch.com/new-york/syosset/difilippo-lafazan-resnick-win-boe-election-budget-passes|access-date=2017-11-12}}</ref> He was the first high school student elected to the school board<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newsday.com/long-island/education/joshua-lafazan-18-elected-to-syosset-school-board-1.3719185|title=Syosset's youngest trustee: 'Feeling great'|date=May 16, 2012|work=Newsday|access-date=2017-11-12|language=en}}</ref> and upon his election, the youngest elected official in [[New York State]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/05/16/new-syosset-school-board-member-is-nys-youngest-elected-official/|title=New Syosset School Board Member Is NY's Youngest Elected Official|publisher=CBS New York|date=2012-05-16|access-date=2017-11-12|language=en}}</ref> He was re-elected to the board in 2015 for another three-year term.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-05-19|title=Results of the 2015-2016 budget vote, and school board election|work=Syosset Schools|url=http://www.syossetschools.org/news/article.aspx?id=26541|access-date=2017-11-12}}</ref> Lafazan resigned from his position on the school board in 2017 after becoming an elected legislator, as required by county charter.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://theislandnow.com/news-98/lafazan-resigns-syosset-ed-board/|title=Lafazan resigns from Syosset ed board - The Island Now|date=2018-01-02|work=The Island Now|access-date=2018-01-07|language=en-US}}</ref>
On June 8, 2017, Lafazan announced he was running for a seat in the [[Nassau County Legislature]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newsday.com/long-island/politics/spin-cycle/joshua-lafzan-to-run-for-nassau-county-legislature-1.13721913|title=23-year-old to run for Nassau Legislature|work=Newsday|access-date=2017-11-12|language=en}}</ref> He won on November 7, 2017, with 56 percent of the vote, against incumbent [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] Donald MacKenzie.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nassaucountyny.gov/571/Election-Results|title=Election Results {{!}} Nassau County, NY - Official Website|website=www.nassaucountyny.gov|language=en|access-date=2017-11-12}}</ref> Lafazan was re-elected to the county legislature in 2019 and 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-11-05|title=Oyster Bay Election: Council Members Pledge 'Honest Government'|url=https://patch.com/new-york/oysterbay/oyster-bay-election-results-2019-polls-close|access-date=2019-11-13|website=Oyster Bay, NY Patch|language=en}}</ref>


⚫
Lafazan was named on the ''[[Long Island Press]]'' Power List of the 50 most influential people on [[Long Island]] in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Joshua Lafazan, Syosset School Board Member|url=http://archive.longislandpress.com/power-list-2012/joshua-lafazan/|access-date=2017-11-12|website=Long Island Press|language=en-US}}</ref> He published ''Political Gladiators: How Millennials Can Navigate the 21st Century Political Minefield and WIN!'' in November 2015, a book about the experiences of other politicians who were elected at a young age.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-12-30|title='Political Gladiators' book offers tips to Millennials|url=http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/2015/12/30/%E2%80%98political-gladiators%E2%80%99-book-offers-tips-millennials|access-date=2017-11-12|website=Brooklyn Daily Eagle}}</ref>
Lafazan has authored and passed multiple notable pieces of legislation in his tenure as a legislator. "Timothy's Law" was passed in August 2018, which established a 24-hour hotline for substance abuse intervention. Related legislation mandated the creation of a smartphone application containing resources for substance abuse, such as treatment center locations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.liherald.com/glenhead/stories/new-bills-support-treatment-access-for-substance-abusers-in-nassau-county,105972|title=New bills support treatment access for substance abusers in Nassau County|website=Herald Community Newspapers|language=en|access-date=2019-05-16}}</ref> The "Dignity For Our Heroes" package, signed into law in April 2019, marked veterans as a protected status under the County's Human Rights Law, in addition to creating the Nassau Commission on Ending Veteran Homelessness, which guides projects meant to reduce the number of veterans who are housing insecure in the region.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2019/04/03/long-island-veterans-homelessness/|title=Dignity For Heroes: Long Island Lawmaker Pushes For Bill Protecting Veterans From Homelessness|date=2019-04-03|language=en|access-date=2019-05-16}}</ref>


In 2017, Lafazan ran for the [[Nassau County Legislature]]'s 18th district against incumbent [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] Donald MacKenzie<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newsday.com/long-island/politics/spin-cycle/joshua-lafzan-to-run-for-nassau-county-legislature-1.13721913|title=23-year-old to run for Nassau Legislature|work=Newsday|access-date=2017-11-12|language=en}}</ref> and won with 56 percent of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nassaucountyny.gov/571/Election-Results|title=Election Results|website=Nassau County, NY - Official Website|language=en|access-date=2017-11-12}}</ref> Lafazan was re-elected to the county legislature in 2019 and 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-11-05|title=Oyster Bay Election: Council Members Pledge 'Honest Government'|url=https://patch.com/new-york/oysterbay/oyster-bay-election-results-2019-polls-close|access-date=2019-11-13|website=Oyster Bay, NY Patch|language=en}}</ref> In both elections he also accepted the ballot line of the [[Conservative Party of New York State|New York Conservative Party]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Ahlman |first=Austin |title=With Progressives Split, Rep. Josh Gottheimer May Be Gaining a New Ally in Congress |url=https://theintercept.com/2022/08/18/new-york-primary-joshua-lafazan-crypto/ |access-date=2023-04-15 |website=The Intercept |language=en}}</ref> As a county legislator, Lafazan authored and passed "Timothy's Law" in August 2018, which established a county hotline for substance abuse intervention. Related legislation would create a smartphone application with resources for substance abuse, such as treatment center locations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.liherald.com/glenhead/stories/new-bills-support-treatment-access-for-substance-abusers-in-nassau-county,105972|title=New bills support treatment access for substance abusers in Nassau County|website=Long Island Herald – Glen Head|language=en|access-date=2019-05-16}}</ref> His proposed "Dignity for Heroes" package marked veterans as a protected status under the county's human rights law.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2019/04/03/long-island-veterans-homelessness/|work=CBS Local|title=Dignity For Heroes: Long Island Lawmaker Pushes For Bill Protecting Veterans From Homelessness|date=2019-04-03|language=en|access-date=2019-05-16}}</ref>
⚫
Lafazan was named on the ''[[Long Island Press]]'' Power List of the 50 most influential people on [[Long Island]] in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Joshua Lafazan, Syosset School Board Member {{!}} Long Island Press|url=http://archive.longislandpress.com/power-list-2012/joshua-lafazan/|access-date=2017-11-12|website=archive.longislandpress.com|language=en-US}}</ref> His book, titled ''Political Gladiators: How Millennials Can Navigate the 21st Century Political Minefield and WIN!'', was published in November 2015, and tells experiences of other politicians who were elected at a young age.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-12-30|title='Political Gladiators' book offers tips to Millennials {{!}} Brooklyn Daily Eagle|url=http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/2015/12/30/%E2%80%98political-gladiators%E2%80%99-book-offers-tips-millennials|access-date=2017-11-12|website=www.brooklyneagle.com}}</ref> Lafazan has been featured as a speaker in [[TED (conference)|TedX]] conferences.<ref>{{Cite web|title=TEDxYouth@Milpark {{!}} TED|url=https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/16384|access-date=2017-11-12|website=www.ted.com|language=en}}</ref>


He is a professor at [[LIU Post|Long Island University]], teaching a course on how to run for public office as a young candidate.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nassau lawmaker goes back to school as professor|url=https://www.newsday.com/long-island/politics/spin-cycle/joshua-lafazan-nassau-legislature-1.29080783|access-date=2019-05-16|website=Newsday|language=en}}</ref>
Lafazan teaches a course on how to run for public office as a young candidate as [[Adjunct professors in North America|adjunct professor]] at [[LIU Post|Long Island University]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Nassau lawmaker goes back to school as professor|url=https://www.newsday.com/long-island/politics/spin-cycle/joshua-lafazan-nassau-legislature-1.29080783|access-date=2019-05-16|website=Newsday|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/nft-profile/joshua-lafazan/|title=Joshua Lafazan|website=Forbes}}</ref>

In 2020 Lafazan accepted at least $50,000 in loans from billionaire investor Bryan Lawrence to make tuition payments; his 2022 opponent Robert Zimmerman sent a letter to the [[Federal Election Commission]] requesting a probe over the loan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Calder |first=Rich |date=2022-08-13 |title=FEC asked to probe Long Island Congressional candidate over affiliation with billionaire couple |url=https://nypost.com/2022/08/13/fec-to-probe-long-island-congressional-candidate-over-affiliation-with-billionaire-couple/ |access-date=2023-04-15 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-06 |title=Josh Lafazan had billionaire couple cover at least $50K of college payments |url=https://nypost.com/2022/08/06/josh-lafazan-had-billionaire-couple-cover-at-least-50k-of-college-payments/ |access-date=2023-04-15 |language=en-US}}</ref>

In December 2021, Lafazan announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in the [[2022 United States House of Representatives elections in New York|2022 race]] for [[New York's 3rd congressional district]].<ref>{{cite news |title = Josh Lafazan, New York's youngest elected official, is running for Congress |newspaper = The Jerusalem Post |date = December 14, 2021 |url = https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/josh-lafazan-new-yorks-youngest-elected-official-is-running-for-congress-688687 |accessdate = August 14, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theislandnow.com/news-98/joshua-lafazan-raises-over-450000-for-congressional-run/|title=Joshua Lafazan raises over $450,000 for Congressional run - News|first=Brandon|last=Duffy|date=January 11, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last = Ahlman |first = Austin |title = WITH PROGRESSIVES SPLIT, REP. JOSH GOTTHEIMER MAY BE GAINING A NEW ALLY IN CONGRESS |publisher = The Intercept |date = August 18, 2022 |url = https://theintercept.com/2022/08/18/new-york-primary-joshua-lafazan-crypto/|accessdate = August 18, 2022}}</ref> He committed to [[term limits]] for the US Congress.<ref>{{Citation |title = U.S. Term Limits Amendments Pledge |publisher = www.termlimits.com |date = July 13, 2022 |url = https://www.termlimits.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/C-NY003Lafazan-Josh-Lafazan-DC-7-14-22.pdf}}</ref> Lafazan courted, and received substantial support from, cryptocurrency interests including [[Sam Bankman-Fried]]'s [[Protect Our Future]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Crypto cash PACs a punch for Gillen, Lafazan? |url=https://www.newsday.com/opinion/the-point/the-point-newsday-josh-lafazan-laura-gillen-crypto-money-ny-congressional-primaries-o7kc32fw |access-date=2023-04-17 |website=Newsday |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=A cryptocurrency billionaire is spending big in New York congressional primaries |url=https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2022/08/cryptocurrency-billionaire-spending-big-new-york-congressional-primaries/375529/ |access-date=2023-04-17 |website=City & State NY |language=en}}</ref> He came in third in the primary.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/08/23/us/elections/results-new-york-us-house-district-3.html|title=New York Third Congressional District Primary Election Results|work=The New York Times |date=August 23, 2022|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref>

In November 2023, Lafazan lost his re-election bid for the Nassau County Legislature to his Republican challenger, Samantha A Goetz.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-08 |title=Nassau GOP keeps 12-7 majority in county legislature |url=https://www.newsday.com/long-island/politics/elections/nassau-gop-supermajority-legislature-election-qr1egq33 |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=Newsday |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Malaszczyk |first=Michael |date=2023-11-07 |title=Nassau County Legislature: Josh Lafazan Loses Re-Election Bid, Republicans Maintain Majority |url=https://www.longislandpress.com/2023/11/07/nassau-county-legislature-results-2023/ |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=www.longislandpress.com |language=en-US}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


==External Links==
==External links==
*[https://www.joshlafazan.com/ Josh Lafazan for Congress]
*[https://www.joshlafazan.com/ Josh Lafazan for Congress]


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[[Category:Nassau Community College alumni]]
[[Category:Nassau Community College alumni]]
[[Category:Syosset High School alumni]]
[[Category:Syosset High School alumni]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 2022 United States House of Representatives elections]]
[[Category:Long Island University faculty]]

Latest revision as of 16:05, 16 June 2024

Josh Lafazan
Lafazan in 2022
Member of the Nassau County Legislature
from the 18th district
In office
January 1, 2018 – December 31, 2023
Preceded byDonald MacKenzie
Succeeded bySamantha Goetz
Personal details
Born (1994-01-29) January 29, 1994 (age 30)
Political partyDemocratic
EducationNassau Community College (AA)
Cornell University (BS)
Harvard University (MEd)
University of Pennsylvania (EdD)
WebsiteOfficial website

Joshua Alexander Lafazan (born January 29, 1994) is an American politician and a former member of the Nassau County Legislature from the 18th district. When elected to the Syosset School Board in 2012, he was the youngest elected official in New York State. He was a candidate to become the Democratic nominee for New York's 3rd congressional district in the 2022 United States House of Representatives election.

Education

Lafazan attended Nassau Community College and received the State University of New York Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence.[1] Lafazan attended Cornell University for his Bachelor of Science degree and Harvard University for his Master of Education degree.[2] He is pursuing doctoral studies at the University of Pennsylvania.[3]

Career

As a high school senior at Syosset High School, he started a volunteer rideshare program to prevent drunk driving to drive teenagers home safely.[4][5]

During the latter part of his senior year of high school, Lafazan campaigned for a trustee position on the Syosset Board of Education. In May 2012, he won with 82 percent of the vote.[6] He was the first high school student elected to the school board[7] and upon his election, the youngest elected official in New York State.[8] He was re-elected to the board in 2015 for another three-year term.[9] Lafazan resigned from his position on the school board in 2017 after becoming an elected legislator, as required by county charter.[10]

Lafazan was named on the Long Island Press Power List of the 50 most influential people on Long Island in 2012.[11] He published Political Gladiators: How Millennials Can Navigate the 21st Century Political Minefield and WIN! in November 2015, a book about the experiences of other politicians who were elected at a young age.[12]

In 2017, Lafazan ran for the Nassau County Legislature's 18th district against incumbent Republican Donald MacKenzie[13] and won with 56 percent of the vote.[14] Lafazan was re-elected to the county legislature in 2019 and 2021.[15] In both elections he also accepted the ballot line of the New York Conservative Party.[16] As a county legislator, Lafazan authored and passed "Timothy's Law" in August 2018, which established a county hotline for substance abuse intervention. Related legislation would create a smartphone application with resources for substance abuse, such as treatment center locations.[17] His proposed "Dignity for Heroes" package marked veterans as a protected status under the county's human rights law.[18]

Lafazan teaches a course on how to run for public office as a young candidate as adjunct professor at Long Island University.[19][20]

In 2020 Lafazan accepted at least $50,000 in loans from billionaire investor Bryan Lawrence to make tuition payments; his 2022 opponent Robert Zimmerman sent a letter to the Federal Election Commission requesting a probe over the loan.[21][22]

In December 2021, Lafazan announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in the 2022 race for New York's 3rd congressional district.[23][24][25] He committed to term limits for the US Congress.[26] Lafazan courted, and received substantial support from, cryptocurrency interests including Sam Bankman-Fried's Protect Our Future.[16][27][28] He came in third in the primary.[29]

In November 2023, Lafazan lost his re-election bid for the Nassau County Legislature to his Republican challenger, Samantha A Goetz.[30][31]

References

  1. ^ "Local Resident Receives State University of N.Y. Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence". Nassau Community College (Press release). Garden City, NY. April 29, 2014. Archived from the original on November 13, 2017.
  2. ^ Novick, Susan M. (September 27, 2019). "This Politician Lives in His Mom's Basement and He's Campaigning on It". The New York Times. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  3. ^ "Meet Josh". www.joshlafazan.com.
  4. ^ "Syosset Student Provides 'Saferide' Home". Syosset, NY Patch. December 15, 2011. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  5. ^ Svitak, Adora (2020), Speak Up!: Speeches by young people to empower and inspire, White Lion Publishing, ISBN 9781781319505
  6. ^ "Syosset Votes 18-Year-Old to School Board". Syosset, NY Patch. May 16, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  7. ^ "Syosset's youngest trustee: 'Feeling great'". Newsday. May 16, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  8. ^ "New Syosset School Board Member Is NY's Youngest Elected Official". CBS New York. May 16, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  9. ^ "Results of the 2015-2016 budget vote, and school board election". Syosset Schools. May 19, 2015. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  10. ^ "Lafazan resigns from Syosset ed board - The Island Now". The Island Now. January 2, 2018. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  11. ^ "Joshua Lafazan, Syosset School Board Member". Long Island Press. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  12. ^ "'Political Gladiators' book offers tips to Millennials". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. December 30, 2015. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  13. ^ "23-year-old to run for Nassau Legislature". Newsday. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  14. ^ "Election Results". Nassau County, NY - Official Website. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  15. ^ "Oyster Bay Election: Council Members Pledge 'Honest Government'". Oyster Bay, NY Patch. November 5, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  16. ^ a b Ahlman, Austin. "With Progressives Split, Rep. Josh Gottheimer May Be Gaining a New Ally in Congress". The Intercept. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  17. ^ "New bills support treatment access for substance abusers in Nassau County". Long Island Herald – Glen Head. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  18. ^ "Dignity For Heroes: Long Island Lawmaker Pushes For Bill Protecting Veterans From Homelessness". CBS Local. April 3, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  19. ^ "Nassau lawmaker goes back to school as professor". Newsday. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  20. ^ "Joshua Lafazan". Forbes.
  21. ^ Calder, Rich (August 13, 2022). "FEC asked to probe Long Island Congressional candidate over affiliation with billionaire couple". Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  22. ^ "Josh Lafazan had billionaire couple cover at least $50K of college payments". August 6, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  23. ^ "Josh Lafazan, New York's youngest elected official, is running for Congress". The Jerusalem Post. December 14, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  24. ^ Duffy, Brandon (January 11, 2022). "Joshua Lafazan raises over $450,000 for Congressional run - News".
  25. ^ Ahlman, Austin (August 18, 2022). "WITH PROGRESSIVES SPLIT, REP. JOSH GOTTHEIMER MAY BE GAINING A NEW ALLY IN CONGRESS". The Intercept. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  26. ^ U.S. Term Limits Amendments Pledge (PDF), www.termlimits.com, July 13, 2022
  27. ^ "Crypto cash PACs a punch for Gillen, Lafazan?". Newsday. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  28. ^ "A cryptocurrency billionaire is spending big in New York congressional primaries". City & State NY. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  29. ^ "New York Third Congressional District Primary Election Results". The New York Times. August 23, 2022 – via NYTimes.com.
  30. ^ "Nassau GOP keeps 12-7 majority in county legislature". Newsday. November 8, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  31. ^ Malaszczyk, Michael (November 7, 2023). "Nassau County Legislature: Josh Lafazan Loses Re-Election Bid, Republicans Maintain Majority". www.longislandpress.com. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
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