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Homegrown, honest and committed are three ways to describe Ruben Wills. Disgusted by ineffective and selfish leadership, Ruben Wills is a candidate for the United States Congress, 6th District, which includes Jamaica, St. Albans, Hollis, Queens Village, Adesleigh Park, Cambria Heights, Far Rockaway, Richmond Hill, Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Laurelton & Rosedale. Reared from humble beginnings, Ruben Wills grew up in South Jamaica Houses. He attended Public School 40, Thomas Edison High School & Long Island University where he pursued a double major in Political Science and Psychology. Life has not always been simple or smooth for Ruben. As an adolescent, Ruben Wills ran into trouble with the law. This experience gave him firsthand knowledge in relating to and mentoring at-risk youth. Ruben Wills has always been an independent thinker. In 1992, at the age of 21, Ruben started R & W Painting and Contracting Co. Through his company Ruben Wills trained and hired local young adults, focusing on those with arrest records and felony convictions. Some of their projects included International House of Pancakes (Hillside Avenue), X-Mas in April under former Mayor David Dinkins, and the Queens Supreme Court House. By 1997, Ruben Wills was teaching men and women ages 18 — 26, trades specific to the construction industry for the New York City Department of Youth & Community Development through Montessori Progressive Learning Center. Ruben also worked as a workshop facilitator for the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development. In 1999, Ruben Wills founded the Christian Basketball League uniting more than 60 churches. The league, still active, provides a safe atmosphere and mentorship program which focuses on at risk males. In 2003, Ruben served as the Confidential Assistant to Councilman Leroy Comrie. It was there Ruben became intimate with troubles and ills of the community. He gained a full understanding of how government does and does not work. Understanding that a community is only as strong as its institutions, in 2004, Ruben Wills created New York for Life, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing awareness on issues such as Obesity, Single Parenthood, Civic Involvement and Education. Currently Ruben Wills is the Executive Chief of Staff to State Senator Shirley L. Huntley in 10th District. In this position Ruben has stood next to Senator Huntley on the front line in battles against the mortgage foreclosure crisis, predatory lending and contracting, unfair treatment of veterans, rising asthma rates in South East Queens and other issues that threaten our community’s well-being. Ruben’s vision is to serve with integrity, provide equity and bring back community involvement in government. He truly believes that “Everyone matters & Everyone counts.” Our expectations must be restored by spreading the message that it is, once again, alright to HOPE! Ruben Wills lives in Saint Albans, Queens with his loving wife Marcia.