As you get to know me better and get to know what our campaign is all about, I need you to understand where I come from and how I came to learn about public service.
My dad, Ron Gerry, was a volunteer with the Stony Brook Fire Department for over 50 years. I heard him answer the call day in and day out -- no matter if it was a holiday, a birthday, or in the middle of the night.
When you grow up in a firefighter family, you learn pretty quickly that you're a part of a big community. All the families know each other and gather for holidays and department events; from parades to softball games. I'll always remember my parents dressing up for a rare night out for the formal installation dinner every year.
But above all, when you join the firehouse, you learn in a deep and intimate way the virtue of volunteering your personal time to serve your community. The commitment my father made all those years ago made a huge impression on me as a kid, and it's a big part of why I'm running for Congress today.
I want our campaign to emulate that same spirit of community, service, and teamwork: I want you to feel like you can drop us an email or call whenever you need help and I want you to get invested in our campaign to make a difference in the lives of our community.
