By: Jeff Lipton
The voters gave the incumbents clear mandates, with huge margins of victory, indicating that approval ratings for local legislators are extremely high.
U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-Mineola) defeated her Republican opponent, longtime Village of Hempstead Mayor James Garner, in the race for the 4th Congressional District seat she has held for the past eight years. With 100 percent of election districts reporting, the final unofficial count was 154,830 for McCarthy and 91,736 for Garner.
"I am so honored to represent the people of the 4th District for two more years," McCarthy said in a statement last Friday. "I am proud of my record during the last eight years and look forward to continuing my work on the issues so important to the 4th District."
During the next two years, her priorities will include working to make sure the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have the necessary resources and funding "to do their jobs as effectively and safely as possible," she said. "Congress must do whatever is possible to protect these brave men and women."
McCarthy said she will also work for a new, tougher federal assault-weapons ban, to replace the 10-year ban that recently expired. In addition, she will work with the House Education Committee to reauthorize the Higher Education Act, ensuring that it contains provisions to make college tuition more affordable for families.
Passing the Transportation Reauthorization Act, which contains millions of dollars for projects in several 4th District communities, tops the list of her priorities locally. Making sure New York gets its fair share of Homeland Security funding and working to make prescription drugs more affordable and available for seniors are also at the top of McCarthy's list.
Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg (D-Long Beach), who has represented the 20th Assembly District seat since 1989, overwhelmingly defeated his Republican opponent, Gary Spitz of Long Beach, 35,108 votes to 16,883. "I appreciate the vote of confidence the people of the 20th A.D. have given me, and I thank them for an outstanding victory," Weisenberg said last Friday. "I expect to accomplish a lot every year.
"This really shows that people appreciate the legislation I've worked on," he added.
Weisenberg's priority in office remains taking care of the less fortunate and the physically and mentally disabled as well as "medically fragile" children, and setting up a home where they could be cared for closer to their own homes.
Getting more trained professionals to deal with children with autism is also a major priority, since one of every 166 children in the region is diagnosed with the neurobiological disorder. "Putting a face on autism is what we have to do, and making them willing participants in our society," the assemblyman said.
Weisenberg also wants to obtain an Empire Zone for the 20th A.D., in a location such as Inwood, which would provide tax incentives for businesses to locate in the area and provide an economic boost for the community, he said.
Education and health care also remain two of Weisenberg's chief priorities over the next two years. Getting a handle on the gang problem, making schools safer, providing after-school activities and continuing to fund area libraries are also at the top of his to-do list. Protecting the environment and drinking water and preventing erosion of the coastline are also priorities, Weisenberg said. He also advocated conducting regular state audits of schools to make sure tax dollars are being appropriated wisely and efficiently.
Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) easily defeated his Democratic opponent, Josh Ketover of Long Beach, by a vote count of 81,723 to 44,085. The senator retained his seat in the 9th Senate District for an 11th two-year term.
"The local elections show the proven power of incumbency," said Nassau County Legislator Jeff Toback (D-Oceanside). "I think it shows that if you do a good job, people appreciate that."
Sy Glass, president of the Woodmere Merchants Association, said the merchants are pitching in by helping to beautify the town, but the major work could not be done without the assistance of local legislators. Glass said that Skelos has secured funding to improve the area, including recently providing $100,000 for street improvements. "We're doing it," said Glass. "We're fixing the town up with this money.
"I think it's great," Glass said of the incumbents' re-elections. "These people got in because they're showing you they're doing their work. Harvey Weisenberg has been a big help to us, and so has Senator Skelos."
As a result new funding to fix up neighborhoods, new businesses, banks and professional offices are being drawn to the community.
"We're just so happy that we won," Skelos said last Tuesday night in his victory speech. "We've had overwhelming victories because we represent our community well. If anything needs fixing in Nassau County, we will do it."
Weisenberg has been criticized by some Democrats for aligning himself with Skelos and even throwing his endorsement his way. "Sometimes legislators must cross party lines and work together," Weisenberg said. "Senator Skelos shares my direction, and he's part of the leadership [in Albany]. When I get together with Dean, it's because we're working for the people in the district."
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