As the New York City Council primaries approach, News 12 spoke to George Sarantopoulos, a Republican candidate in the running.

George Sarantopoulos, a longtime Brooklyn resident, says his campaign is driven by personal experience and a deep commitment to his community.

Sarantopoulos hopes to represent Coney Island, Bay Ridge and Sea Gate, said a lifechanging health battle inspired him to step up and serve.

“The doctors said there's a 90% chance you're not going to make five years,” Sarantopoulos said, recalling his prostate cancer diagnosis three years ago.

He credits his recovery to the strength of his family and the community — and says that experience ultimately led him to public service.

“I decided I want to give back to the community. I wanted to do something,” he said.

Now, Sarantopoulos says he is focusing on issues that matter most to residents: public safety, quality of life and keeping longtime Brooklyn residents in their neighborhoods.

“Everything from scooters on sidewalks to, ‘Hey, I don’t feel safe on the train,’ to the mentally disturbed,” he said.

He believes part of the solution lies in better treatment for people on the streets who may pose a safety threat, paired with stronger investments in small businesses and workforce development.

“We need to create more job opportunities and business opportunities,” he said. “I would have seminars and training programs — for example, how to do QuickBooks.”

Sarantopoulos also emphasized support for seniors, proposing meaningful tax relief to help older residents stay in their homes.

“I believe that the real estate taxes need to be looked at — specifically, some kind of real estate tax break for our seniors that's meaningful,” he said.

Having worked on previous political campaigns, Sarantopoulos says he hopes to now lead one himself — serving the district he’s lived in for decades.

News 12 requested interviews with all the top-funded candidates in the district race.

Go to the Power & Politics section of the website to check them out.