Brooke Ellison Overcoming Challenges for New York

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The Smithtown Times Ellison to Face NYâ€™s Challenges Political newcomer will be seeking a state Senate seat by Laura Weir Brooke Ellison loves life. The 27-year-old Stony Brook resident has been living with quadriplegia since age 11 and knows a great deal about overcoming challenges. Ellison, who was the subject of a 2004 film directed by late actor and fellow quadriplegic Christopher Reeve, is running for the New York State Senate against John Flanagan (R-East Northport). She will run as a Democrat. “Iâ€™ve always had a passion for public service,” said Ellison from her home office in late February. “I suppose it was shortly after 9/11 that I felt a calling to do something bigger than what I was doing.” Ellison had just graduated magna cum laude from Harvard where she majored in cognitive neuroscience. She continued her studies at Harvardâ€™s Kennedy School of Government and began traveling the country as an inspirational speaker. “I have a commitment to making an impact,” she said. Now Ellison has put her pursuit of a Ph.D. in political science at Stony Brook University on hold so she can put all of her efforts into her Senate campaign. Overcoming challenges will be the focus of Ellisonâ€™s campaign, and to her, that seems fitting. Since a devastating accident in 1990 that left her completely paralyzed below the neck and unable to breathe without the help of a ventilator, she has become a successful overachiever by overcoming her own life challenge. A spirited preadolescent, Ellison was involved in extracurricular activities at school and had a passion for music. She played the cello in the school orchestra, sang in the junior church choir and loved to dance, taking dancing lessons since the age of two. But much of that changed after she was hit by a car while crossing Nicolls Road on her way home from her first day in the seventh grade. The accident severely damaged her spinal chord, rendering her a C1, C2 quadriplegic. Ellison became dependent on her mother, Jean, who has been by her daughterâ€™s side throughout her studies at Harvard and her trips around the country for speaking engagements. The two published a book in 2002, Miracles Happen: One Mother, One Daughter, One Journey, detailing their struggles and triumphs. Jean Ellison will be by her daughterâ€™s side throughout her senate campaign journey as well. Ellison said there are five issues that affect New Yorkers most. She cited the lack of affordable housing as a major problem for Long Islanders in particular. “Iâ€™m so tired of hearing about friends and family members who have to move off of Long Island because they can¹t afford to live here,” Ellison said. “Itâ€™s a tremendous problem. Our young people, our labor force, the elderly, it affects everybody and it¹s not right. It drives away too many people and, if it doesn¹t already, it¹s really going to affect Long Islandâ€™s population in a dramatic way.” Asked about her position on the recent controversial proposal for affordable housing units on the property of the former Kings Park Psychiatric Center, Ellison said, “Affordable housing can be a hot button issue.” She said the outcry from some Kings Park residents, who said the proposal for 1,800 units on the site was too intense for the tiny hamlet, was an important part of the equation. “Before anything happens, their voices need to be heard,” she said. “Input needs to be taken by everybodyâ€™s lives who are affected by it.” Improving transportation is vital for Long Island, according to Ellison. “Transportation and traffic on Long Island [have] become an increasing problem and we have to come to some reasonable solutions,” she said. “It shouldn¹t take upwards of 45 minutes to get from Huntington to Smithtown.” Ellisonâ€™s third issue is education and “insuring that our schools are adequately funded.” She called Home for Fiscal Equity “an important decision,” and said, “Itâ€™s important that Long Island districts get the money that they deserve.” On protecting the environment, Ellison recalled, ³Growing up as a kid, my memories are all based on going to the beach on Long Island and pumpkin picking and I want other kids to have these memories.” She said she is not against development, but that ³it has to be done more sensibly.” Of particular focus in Ellison¹s Senate campaign is stem cell research, which some in the fields of science and medicine say could lead to a cure for paralysis and other conditions. She said she would support a bill similar to Californiaâ€™s Proposition 71, which established the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to regulate stem cell research and provide funding through grants and loans for research and research facilities in California. “New York has always been on the forefront,” she said. “Stem cell research is life-enhancing in every way. The research is too promising. The research is too great. Not to pursue it is shortsighted.” Asked why she chose to enter the often cold and cutting world of politics, Ellison said she doesnâ€™t see it that way. “Politics has gotten a cynical misnomer,” she said. “Politics is one way in which people can discuss their problems and have their problems addressed. People should be able to have their problems addressed and solved through political channels, and Iâ€™m committed to that. Iâ€™m committed to bringing optimism back to politics.” Responding to a question about her voting record, something that has dogged many political candidates, Ellison said she voted for the first time when she turned 18 and votes regularly in local and national elections. Even for fire commissioner elections, Ellison said, she makes sure she gets to the polls. She now wants others to have the chance to vote for her. “I am in the race and an official announcement is coming very soon,” she said, adding that she views Albany as ineffective and in need of change. “I have lived a life that has been characterized by challenge and Iâ€™ve used my own determination and motivation to overcome those challenges. Now I want to help New York overcome its challenges.” The most challenging part for her in this campaign, Ellison said, will be “forcing myself to take a step back when I can, because Iâ€™m so invested in what Iâ€™m doing.” She said if her hectic schedule permits, she would like to occasionally “take the time to talk to my friends and watch a movie.” Asked how she keeps up her spirits where others might falter, Ellison said, “I love life. I love doing as much as I can and touching as many lives as I possibly can and having lives touch me. Thatâ€™s always been a deep part of my personality.”