8th Senate District endorsement — Fuschillo

The Herald once again endorses State Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr., a Republican from Merrick, for the 8th Senate District seat he has held since 1998. Fuschillo has followed admirably in the footsteps of his legendary predecessor, Sen. Norman J. Levy of Merrick, who died 14 years ago of a brain tumor.

Since taking office, Fuschillo has fought to upgrade the state’s drunken-driving laws. Most important, he authored the bill that lowered a driver’s maximum allowable blood alcohol content to .08 percent, giving law enforcement officials greater ability to prosecute DWI cases.

At the same time, Fuschillo has for many years served as chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, and has focused on controlling ticket fares on the Long Island Rail Road. He has also served as a watchdog for critical infrastructure improvements, such as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s East Side Access Project, which will provide LIRR riders access to Grand Central Terminal.

Finally, Fuschillo is heavily involved in the communities he serves, including his home community of Merrick-Bellmore. He has long supported the schools, lobbying in Albany for greater state aid, while also lending a helping hand to community organizations, from the Kiwanis Club to our Little Leagues.

We found Fuschillo’s opponent, Carol Gordon, a Democrat from Massapequa, well-intentioned and likable, but we don’t believe she has the background or understanding of critical issues the job requires.

Vote for Fuschillo on Tuesday.