Becker beats Scaturro in primary

Nassau County Legislator Francis X. Becker (R-Lynbrook) will challenge U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy for her seat once again in November.

According to the Nassau County Board of Elections website, Becker garnered 55 percent of the vote in the Republican congressional primary held on June 26 with 6,357 votes. His opponent, Frank J. Scaturro, had 5,175.

McCarthy was first elected to Congress in 1996, and will be seeking her ninth term. She defeated Becker in his first bid for her seat, in 2010, 89,828 to 77,483.

“I’m very excited and very thankful,” Becker said of his win. “I feel that I’m the best qualified to run against McCarthy in November.”

Becker said that his focus now is on the new district, and that fundraising is critical with an incumbent as his opponent. “The president and McCarthy have to be held accountable for overspending and the national debt,” he said. “And they have to explain why the county has not improved economically. We’re going in the wrong direction.” He added that voters will see the “stark difference between [McCarthy’s] politics and mine.”

Asked about other issues that may figure prominently in his campaign, Becker said that the economy would be his focus, and that entrepreneurs should take a chance and invest in America again. “As someone with grandchildren, I wonder, what kind of future will I leave for them? Will they have the same possibilities for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? These are the key issues.”