Vivian M. Viloria-Fisher

Viloria-Fisher stresses that she is the only primary contender who was a district resident and Democrat when the last primary was run two years ago. She favors a national living wage and repeal of the GOP tax overhaul, saying it favors corporations and the wealthy. If elected, she will vote to restore tax deductions for students and homeowners and restore net neutrality protections. Viloria-Fisher opposes cuts to Social Security and public health care and strongly backs protecting reproductive rights and LGBTQ rights. She favors U.S. participation in the Paris climate accords and capping of CO2 emissions. She favors a ban on assault weapons, sensible gun reform and keeping teachers from carrying guns in school. She favors the DREAM Act, reasonable pathways for immigrants to gain citizenship and opposes municipalities honoring administrative warrants from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Viloria-Fisher, 70, a former Suffolk County legislator from Setauket, is making her second bid for Congress. Born in the Dominican Republic, she moved to the United States as a child, and taught for 32 years in the Middle Country and Three Village school districts. Viloria-Fisher served 13 years as a county legislator until she was term-limited. She ran a close race for Suffolk County clerk, and lost a bid for Brookhaven Town supervisor. In 2002, she unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for Congress in the First District. As a county legislator, Viloria-Fisher served for six years as deputy presiding officer and a decade as environment committee chairwoman. She co-sponsored a local living wage law; worked to expand bus transportation; voted to ban MTBE, a gasoline additive that pollutes ground water; and created the agricultural stewardship program in which farmers voluntarily lowered pesticide, fertilizer and water use. After leaving office, Viloria-Fisher served as a Planned Parenthood Hudson-Peconic board member for five years. She is married and has five children.