By Brian Zanzonico
Despite the disparity, state Senator Mike Balboni, a Republican, won each of his elections by wide margins since winning a special election for the seat in 1997. Now, with Balboni elevated to Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer's cabinet as deputy secretary for public safety, there is a void to fill in the state senate. The Feb. 6 special election will determine whether Republicans maintain a 33-28 majority.
Voters will decide whether Republican County Clerk Maureen O'Connell or Democratic county Legislator Craig Johnson will be their new representative. Being an elected county official, O'Connell, is a familiar name to voters in Franklin Square and Elmont. But for local voters, Johnson, whose legislative district lies mostly within the Town of North Hempstead, is a virtual unknown. Given the fact that the number of registered Democrats far exceeds the number of registered Republicans, however, does Johnson feel added pressure in his campaign?
"I don't view it as a Democratic race, or an Independence race, I view it as a race for people," Johnson said. "As a legislator, I fight for all the people of my district, and I'd do that as state senator."
Johnson, the chairman of the county Legislature's finance committee, is no stranger to special elections. In the 1990s, he served as political advisor and consultant to his mother, Barbara, a longtime county Legislator, before she died of breast cancer in 2000. Her death left a seat vacancy and compromised the first Democratic majority in the county Legislature in decades. But Johnson defeated Republican candidate Linda Green and Green Party candidate Ben Zwirn in a special election to give control back to the Democrats. Johnson won reelection in 2005 by 71 percent of the vote.
Johnson said although Franklin Square and Elmont voters may not be too familiar with him, he is well acquainted with the needs of the community. An advocate of what he calls Spitzer's "reform agenda," Johnson said his focus is on improving the lives of the middle class. Highlights of Spitzer's agenda that Johnson said he'll push are:
A three-year, $6 billion property tax reduction for middle class homeowners.
Reducing health care costs by using the state's bargaining power to drive down the price of prescription drugs, fighting Medicaid fraud and restructuring excess capacity.
Saving millions of dollars by eliminating duplicative services and consolidating New York's layers of local government.
A series of lobbying and campaign finance reforms to reduce the power of special interests.
"Together we will help change the culture of Albany, provide property tax relief to the families of Nassau County, reform health care and make government more responsive for all New Yorkers," Spitzer said last week. "Craig is a voice for the common-sense changes we need. He will be a great state Senator."
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