HERALD ENDORSEMENTS 2006

Herald Election 2006 Endorsements

U.S. Senate

Keep Clinton in the U.S. Senate

      It's almost safe to say that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will handily win re-election on Nov. 7. She is leading in the polls, has the support of most if not all Democrats and some Republicans as well, is running against a little-known Republican challenger, and has national stature that is arguably unrivaled by any other U.S. senator.
      While she may have presidential aspirations for 2008, Clinton's popularity bodes well for New Yorkers. She not only gives voice in the world's greatest deliberative body to the important issues we face, but with her close ties to Democratic leaders in Albany, a good relationship with the odds-on favorite in the governor's race, Eliot Spitzer, and a proven ability to work with Republicans, we feel that Clinton is an unequalled advocate for the state.
      She has been a paradox of sorts, remaining in the political center in order to appeal to colleagues and make new friends on both sides of the aisle. Among the latter, ironically, is Newt Gingrich, whom she worked with in drafting legislation to create extensive online exchanges of medical information among doctors, patients and medical insurers.
      Clinton worked to pass a bill that extended $2.7 billion in unused state Children's Health Insurance Program funding, one-third of which went to New York to provide coverage for children in low-income and working families.
      Clinton believes in comprehensive immigration reform, including forcing illegal immigrants to pay fines and holding employers accountable for hiring them. Though some of the ideas she supports seem unrealistic -- such as the proposed fence along the Mexican border -- she maintains a pragmatic view as the country tries to figure out what to do with the millions of people who are already here.
      She has also been a strong advocate for homeland security in New York state, and voiced her outrage when federal funding for the state was cut earlier this year.
      While her Republican opponent, John Spencer, a conservative and a former mayor of Yonkers, blasted her for being weak on defense, Clinton has proved to be savvy in that arena, too, so much so that she is the first New York senator ever to serve on the Armed Services Committee.
      We share Spencer's concern that Clinton is using New York as a springboard to higher office. But she wouldn't be the first politician to have higher political aspirations, and that possibility does not dim the enthusiasm with which we endorse her.

3rd Congress

Cast your ballot for Mejias in 3rd C.D.

      Nassau County Legislator Dave Mejias, a Democrat from North Massapequa who is seeking to unseat U.S. Rep. Peter King in the 3rd Congressional District, lashed out this week at King, charging that he was abusing his chairmanship of the House Homeland Security Committee.
      Mejias noted that King's son, Sean, is vice president of Park Strategies, which has "lucrative contracts with many big businesses to lobby on defense and homeland security spending." Park Strategies' clients include Lockheed Martin and L-3 Communications, according to Mejias, who believes there is a clear conflict of interest here. King says his office does not deal with his son's company.
      Mejias raises a fair and important question.
      Sadly, the entrenched politicians who now rule Washington too often believe that they can take advantage of the system with no repercussions. It's high time for change. And that, in part, is why the Herald endorses Mejias in the 3rd District.
      Mejias is the first credible Democratic challenger that King has faced in his 12 years in Congress. Mejias is smart, forthright and uncorrupted by the millions of lobbying dollars flowing through the nation's capital.
      The son of Cuban immigrants who were persecuted under the Castro regime, Mejias understands what it is to live in poverty, and he wants to make sure that all Americans receive the government protections that they deserve. As one example, he opposes President Bush's reckless plan to privatize Social Security.
      Not surprisingly, Mejias believes the Iraq war is being mismanaged, and favors a swift withdrawal from the ravaged nation. He wants U.S. troops redeployed to Afghanistan in 12 to 18 months to fight the Taliban, which is making something of a comeback.
      With sectarian violence growing by the day in Iraq and American forces coming under increasingly heavy fire (October was the deadliest month for our troops there in a year), the U.S. has no easy way to extricate itself from this chaotic country, which might soon erupt in civil war. A year to a year and a half may be an unrealistic timetable for withdrawal, but at the very least, Mejias is thinking about leaving Iraq, rather than simply "staying the course" indefinitely, no matter the price, monetarily and, worse, in human lives.
      King has shown himself to be a rubber stamp for Bush's failed policies. He actively lobbied for the Iraq invasion without asking the kinds of tough questions that our lawmakers should in order to check presidential power.
      On the environment, King has among the worst voting records in Congress, according to the League of Conservation Voters. Mejias, on the other hand, has a proven track record of supporting environmental causes in the Nassau County Legislature.
      On immigration, King supported a measure that would have made it a crime to house and feed illegal immigrants, even if they were homeless and starving. We found the bill repulsive and antithetical to America's spirit of giving. The measure also put King at odds with the Catholic Church, which he was all too willing to spar with.
      King has made much of being named House Homeland Security Committee chairman. But when New York lost $80 million in homeland security funding, the congressman was powerless to get the money back. He is hardly the omnipotent political leader that he would have us believe he is.
      The 3rd Congressional District needs a new voice and new thinking in Washington. The Herald endorses Dave Mejias.

4th Congress

Another term for McCarthy

      During her time in Congress, Carolyn McCarthy, a Democrat from Mineola, has fought for causes she believes in. She has argued for more funding for public education and battled the gun lobby, giving New York some of the most stringent standards for firearms possession in the nation.
      McCarthy says she will continue to stand up for what she believes is right for her constituents, and that if she is re-elected, Medicare reform will be high on her list of priorities. She wants legislation that would allow the government to bargain with drug companies when buying medication in bulk. If the government were allowed to do this, McCarthy believes, senior citizens on fixed incomes wouldn't have to find alternative ways of getting the medications they need to stay alive. They wouldn't need to take any more trips to Canada in search of cheaper meds, and, McCarthy reasons, costs would drop, saving American taxpayers many millions of dollars.
      McCarthy's opponent, Republican Marty Blessinger, is making his first run for public office. We applaud his desire to come up with an evacuation plan for Long Island in the event of a disaster, and he seems to have a grasp of the other issues the country and his potential constituents are facing. However, McCarthy has been a strong voice for those constituents for the past 10 years, and she has gained a great deal of invaluable experience and knowledge during that decade.
      McCarthy never planned on becoming a politician, and as a result she hasn't forgotten where she came from while she's been in Washington. Hoping she never does, the Herald endorses her.

6th State Senate

Go with experience, and Hannon, in 6th

      Nassau County has an aging population: Almost 15 percent of its residents are 65 or older. That makes health care an even more pressing issue here than it is elsewhere in the nation, and as a result, we need our representatives to make it a priority.
      Kemp Hannon has led the Health Committee in the state Senate for the last 11 years, and has chaired or served on a number of other committees focused on improving the quality or lowering the cost of the health care New Yorkers receive.
      Hannon knows that Medicaid fraud is a major expense, and has worked hard to reduce it. This is particularly important given the county's enormous tax burden. He helped create the Senate's Medicaid Fraud Task Force, and recently helped establish the position of Medicaid inspector general. His support for health programs like Child Health Plus (CHiP) shows that he understands the need to get health coverage to as many people as possible.
      Casilda Roper-Simpson is an appealing candidate with much to recommend her. Though she has not held statewide political office, she has been involved with numerous community organizations and knows the law. She is a committed advocate, and she recognizes that our leaders need to have a vision of the future. One of her proposals in particular -- that families housing elderly relatives be allowed to add them to their insurance policies -- is intriguing, and has the potential to help uninsured seniors.
      Fortunately for 6th District residents, there are no bad candidates in this race. We endorse Hannon, however, because of his 17 years of experience and his unstinting work on one of the most important issues Nassau County faces.

8th State Senate

Give your vote to Fuschillo in 8th S.D.

      South Shore residents are incredibly fortunate to have state Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr., a Republican from Merrick, fighting for them in Albany. And so, once again, the Herald enthusiastically endorses Fuschillo in the 8th Senate District race this year.
      Fuschillo cares about doing what's right, not what's politically expedient or good for his career. For example, rather than accept big campaign donations from the tobacco lobbyists, Fuschillo fought them and enacted the statewide smoking ban in bars and restaurants, to our collective benefit.
      He authored the bill that redefined the definition of driving while intoxicated, lowering the prosecutable blood alcohol content level from .10 to .08 percent. He also worked on legislation that would require mandatory jail time for repeat DWI offenders, and those with BACs of .18 or higher.
      Most recently, Fuschillo took on identity-theft legislation. A measure he sponsored, the Information Security Breach and Notification Act, requires businesses and government agencies that collect personal information to immediately inform people when their computer systems are hacked and information is stolen.
      Many will remember that, early in his tenure, Fuschillo fought vigorously to have Freeport Electric's diesel Power Plant No. 2 shut down and replaced with a clean-burning, gas-fired facility. The old diesel turbines spewed a host of known carcinogens into the air. Now Plant No. 2 is considered among Long Island's cleanest power plants.
      As a majority-party member of the Senate with considerable clout on both sides of the aisle, Fuschillo is able to bring large sums of grant money home to his constituents, and he uses the grants well, mainly distributing them to the schools and not-for-profit organizations that directly benefit children.
      We found Fuschillo's opponent, Democrat Adam Small of North Merrick, to be intelligent and polite. He had good ideas. But given Fuschillo's outstanding record of service to his community and to the state, we could not seriously consider endorsing Small for the Senate post.
      Cast your ballot for Fuschillo in the 8th District.

9th State Senate

Dean Skelos, without a doubt

      The choice in the 9th Senate District, yet again, isn't much of a choice. Incumbent Republican Dean Skelos, the senate's deputy majority leader and one of the most powerful men in Albany, comes closer each year to perfecting the balance between his duties to his caucus in Albany and his constituents at home. To our eye, both have benefited by his leadership.
      It's been a productive two years. Much of what Skelos has accomplished last term falls into the "it's about time" category: Megan's Law reform, the DNA database, the elimination of the statute of limitations on rape cases. But we see his Medicaid inspector general's office, which is expected to save taxpayers millions of dollars over the next two years, as major progress in a fight that had to date yielded too many moral victories. These types of inspired innovations, no matter who gets the credit, should be far more common in Albany.
      Skelos's success over the course of his career has scared off most legitimate competition, and this year the Democrats are offering Odelia Goldberg, an IBM executive and sometime attorney from Lawrence. We aren't convinced she understands the nature of the issues facing the troubled Lawrence Public School District. They are highly sensitive and based on ancient fears and prejudices in an evolving community, which Goldberg dismissed, rather ignorantly, as "Dean's fault." She promised that if she loses this election she will challenge Skelos again in two years. We hope she's better prepared next time.
      Skelos's next two-year term, for which we enthusiastically endorse him, will offer a glimpse of the type of leader he will be when he eventually succeeds Joseph Bruno. With Democrat Eliot Spitzer likely to win the governor's race next month, the team of Skelos and Bruno will seize from Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver the role of the all-powerful counterbalance -- the men across the table through whom all legislation must flow.
      We trust Skelos has the character and the wisdom to wield such power humbly and to the benefit of his constituents, not just his benefactors. This should be an exciting term to watch.

14th Assembly District

Return Barra in the 14th District

      Daniel Torres has become a more seasoned candidate during his second run for the 14th Assembly District seat, now occupied by Republican Robert Barra. Torres, a Democrat, has interesting ideas about the environment, such as promoting renewable energy at the state level. While acknowledging that this is an issue that can be better addressed by the federal government, Torres still feels that the state must deal with it, too, and be a leader in exploring energy alternatives. He would like to see the state promote the use of biofuels as an alternative to oil, in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and our dependence on foreign oil. Ultimately, Torres says, consumers would save money.
      He and Barra agree that affordable housing is an issue that is crucial to the future of Long Island. High rents and home prices have contributed mightily to illegal occupancy problems throughout Nassau County, and both candidates would like to take a shot at alleviating them. Both think that Nassau County Assessor Harvey Levinson's idea of rezoning the most egregious of offending houses from residential to commercial, dramatically increasing their property taxes, could help.
      Both men believe that education funding is an urgent issue. Barra argues that the state should provide schools relief from federal mandates, and that the federal government should more adequately fund programs it initiates. Torres believes that funding problems are inextricably linked to property taxes, and that the tax formula, which puts too much of a burden on the middle class, needs to be reworked.
      While Torres has solid ideas, however, Barra has delivered for his constituents. He was part of an Assembly that passed the state's first on-time budget in 25 years, he has worked with Sen. Dean Skelos to strengthen the state's Megan's Law, and he has brought state funding home to the communities he represents. And Barra has been accessible to his constituents, frequently appearing at local schools to see what the needs of the school districts are for himself.
      Our endorsement of Barra is not without reservations. His recent comment comparing gay marriage to bestiality was way more than insensitive, it was ignorant and despicable. We hope he takes every opportunity in his legislative role to make constructive and long-lasting amends for his offensive remarks.
      While we encourage Torres to continue to learn about local issues and run for public office again, our endorsement goes to Barra, who we think is most familiar with the concerns and needs of the people of the 14th District.

15th Assembly District

In the 15th, the clear choice is Walker

      In the race to represent the residents of the 15th Assembly District, the Herald's endorsement goes to incumbent Rob Walker, a Republican from Hicksville.
      In his bid for re-election, Walker faces Matthew Pangburn, a Democrat from Salisbury, who does not have much experience in government. But Walker's resume would look impressive no matter who was running against him. Elected to the Assembly in May of 2004, Walker, 31, is one of its youngest members, but don't let his youth fool you. During his first term he has shown the tenacity and zeal of a seasoned political veteran, and has proven to be a staunch advocate for his district, which encompasses the northern section of the Town of Oyster Bay and portions of the Town of Hempstead and North Hempstead.
      In just over two years in office, Walker has become the ranking member of the Assembly's Tourism, Arts and Sports Development Committee, and he is also a member of the standing committees on energy and aging. In addition, he serves on several task forces, including Medicaid Fraud, Waste and Abuse, Safer Communities and Successful Schools.
      He has addressed the need for tax relief by working to increase state aid to schools, helping enact the Medicaid Fraud Prevention and Recovery Act, supporting the cap on the state's gas tax, backing the elimination of the so-called marriage penalty and calling for the distribution of property tax rebate checks to Long Islanders.
      Walker feels that his success in the Assembly is attributable to his experience in local government, as assistant to Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto (from 1998 to 2001) and as the town's deputy commissioner of parks (from 2002 to 2005). To this day, Walker strives to give his office the feel of a local municipality by answering his constituents' questions himself, and not referring them to another state agency.
      We are confident that in a second term, Walker will continue to fight to bring tax relief and affordable housing to District 15, and we urge voters to show their support for him.

17th Assembly District

McKevitt is the choice in the 17th A.D.

      In the race for the Assembly's 17th District seat, the Herald endorses seven-month incumbent Tom McKevitt, a Republican from East Meadow.
      When McKevitt was first elected to the Assembly in March, he had to learn very quickly the art of getting legislation passed. He says now that the secret lies in forging cooperative relationships with members of the Democratic majority and bringing important legislation to the attention of the public. So far this strategy has helped the Republican minority garner bipartisan support for tax relief for Long Island homeowners, increase state aid to schools, cap the state's gasoline tax, expand the DNA database and eliminate the statute of limitations for rape.
      McKevitt has been accessible to his constituents, and takes his job very seriously. Monday through Wednesday he is in Albany, meeting with lobbying groups and voting on legislation. From Thursday to Sunday he attends events and holds mobile office hours throughout his district, which comprises Merrick, North Merrick, Bellmore, North Bellmore, East Meadow, Garden City, Uniondale, New Hyde Park, Garden City Park, Mineola, Alberton, the Willistons, Carle Place, Westbury and a portion of Roosevelt. McKevitt works seven days a week, at times late into the night.
      During his campaign against challenger Dolores Sedacca, a Democrat from East Williston, McKevitt has offered the most well-thought-out plans for creating more affordable housing and reining in school taxes and health care costs. To make more Long Island homes affordable, he favors an Assembly proposal that would set aside $200 million in grant money for first-time home buyers. To bring school taxes down, he supports the creation of an inspector general's office for education, which, McKevitt says, would save taxpayers money by weeding out the misuse of funds by school officials. As for health care, he promises to protect programs already in place that provide valuable assistance to the elderly, such as Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage, or EPIC.
      We're sure that, given enough time, Sedacca, a former mayor of East Williston, would make a fine Assembly member. But in just seven months, McKevitt has proven to be the perfect advocate for the 17th District. He has not only the plans, but the know-how to solve the current problems facing his constituency, and the Herald enthusiastically endorses him.

18th Assembly District

It's Jackson's turn in the 18th District

      Assemblywoman Earlene Hooper, the only minority state lawmaker from Long Island, has held her seat since she was first elected in 1988, easily defeating a string of opponents. While she has a modest record of accomplishments -- such as her work with Sen. Charles Fuschillo on a 2002 law that allowed the state to take over the troubled Roosevelt district -- her absence from public debates and her avoidance of interviews is troubling.
      By steering clear of the press, Hooper has shown an unwillingness to become part of the public discourse. Disappointingly, the Herald's repeated requests for in interview went unanswered, which we feel manifests a blatant disregard for both her constituents and the issues they face.
      Hooper, who was appointed chair of the Assembly's majority conference and is known to be a confidante of Speaker Sheldon Silver, has supported the creation of Empire Zones in Nassau County this year in an effort to attract businesses, create jobs and restore a number of brownfields in the area. But there are reports that she has been inaccessible to residents in the Baldwin Oaks community and members of the Baldwin Oaks Civic Association. That group has been fighting to restore a brownfield at Coes Neck Park for some time, and it says Hooper has been unresponsive to its requests for her help.
      Her challenger, Republican J. Barrington Jackson, an attorney from Hempstead Village, has pledged to make himself accessible to both constituents and the media. Jackson says he wants to focus on health care, taxes and economic development. When it comes to school taxes, he says that school boards have no real control over growing school budgets, and that most increases are contractual. He proposes reducing pension costs and reaching out to union officials to find solutions.
      But Jackson promises to serve only one or two terms if elected, explaining that he hopes to effect change from the outside as an attorney or an activist once his term is up. It is refreshing to see a rabble-rouser running, and we believe Jackson would not toe the Republican line as an assemblyman. We share his belief that there should be a viable third party, and that it is dangerous to vote only because of a candidate's political affiliation.
      But change takes time, and given the obstacles Jackson would encounter in the Democratic-majority Assembly, any belief that he would accomplish much in one or two terms is unrealistic. He did say that the residents of District 18 have nothing to lose, claiming that Hooper has not done much and is a phantom lawmaker. He may have a point.
      The Assembly needs members who make themselves available to any who ask for help -- or answers to their questions -- and who are committed to doing the job. We feel that Jackson meets that standard, and we hope he'll have a change of heart about his commitment as he gets a feel for the political process.

19th Assembly District

Vote David McDonough in the 19th A.D.

      As it has three times previously, the Herald enthusiastically endorses Republican David McDonough in the 19th Assembly District race.
      McDonough is a rare gem. He truly loves serving as an assemblyman because he cares about helping people. He isn't in it for the money, or the power. He wants to make a difference.
      His opponent, Democrat Donald Birnbaum, levels the same two charges that the Democratic Party has traditionally thrown at McDonough -- that he can get few bills passed into law and bring home little in special legislative grants for his district because he is a member of the Assembly's Republican minority.
      We find no merit in either argument. Ninety-three bills for which McDonough has served as co-prime sponsor or as a sponsor were passed into law. Moreover, the assemblyman has taken an activist role in the Legislature.
      In 2005, for example, the Assembly minority lobbied the Democratic majority heavily to release a series of important sex-crimes bills from committee to the Assembly floor, where they could be voted on. For years, the Democrats had balked. Then minority members went to the media, conducting numerous interviews to get the word out about what was happening in Albany. GOP Assembly members, including McDonough, created something of a clamor.
      Then they began collecting petition signatures, calling on the majority to release the bills. In all, they gathered some 15,000 signatures statewide. More than 3,000 of them came from McDonough. Nearly every one of the bills, including a significantly upgraded Megan's Law, were signed into law.
      The assemblyman has also taken on important leadership roles. He now serves as co-chairman of the Assembly Minority Sexual Assault and Violence Education Task Force and as chairman of the Crime in Our Communities Task Force. In addition, he has brought in more than a half-million dollars in special grants for his district.
      No doubt, McDonough is the type of tenacious, sympathetic legislator we need fighting for us in Albany.
      Birnbaum is a consummate attorney and a caring husband and father. He has presented no specific plans about what he would do if he were elected, however. To receive our endorsement, Birnbaum would have had to lay out detailed policy proposals in a number of critical areas, including education, health care and law enforcement. He did not.
      We see no reason to unseat a popular, well-versed incumbent. The Herald endorses David McDonough in the 19th Assembly District.

20th Assembly District

Two more years for Weisenberg

      Democratic Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg asked an important question last week (which we'll paraphrase): How can everyone say Albany is broken when I'm up there getting results with both hands?
      The answer, of course, lies in your interpretation of the word "results." For those who expect their representatives to work hard and spend tax dollars in their districts, then Weisenberg may have a place waiting for him on Mount Rushmore. But those who believe a legislator's job is to do the most with the least, to create opportunities while minimizing spending, won't find Weisenberg to their liking.
      He is, after all, from the old school, and expecting him to walk away from a winning formula of local glad-handing and big spending that earns him 65 percent of the vote every two years is unrealistic. Those who seek reform in Albany should look elsewhere.
      In 2006, the elsewhere is interesting, but not convincing. Frank McQuade is a more viable opponent than Weisenberg is used to facing, and at the very least he's making a real effort. His attacks on Weisenberg on issues of pork and the direction of Albany are legitimate, if not original. They're also losing their value. For all the saber rattling we've heard over the last decade about reforming Albany, voters have consistently shown they're less interested in change than in incumbents with outsized personalities who spend big and achieve big, and Weisenberg is one of them.
      Forget the unlikelihood that McQuade will win; far more important, we can't imagine him achieving much as a member of the Assembly's Republican minority. Certainly, in our wildest dreams a real dynamo could single-handedly wake people up and conquer the loathed three-men-in-a-room atmosphere in Albany. We just don't see McQuade as the guy.
      Forget that he is 0-3 running for local office in Long Beach and Nassau County, his awkward manner and his use (and occasional misuse) of big words, which can be grating even to his allies. McQuade's claim that he was the "architect" of the GOP upset in Long Beach in 2003 is self-delusion. His big idea for reforming Medicaid is to kick people off it. There simply isn't enough substance there.
      Weisenberg, whether a legend or a myth, gets results for the 20th District and sets a good example in his crusades on behalf of the parents of infirm children. Sad to say, but some jobs require professional politicians. Weisenberg should be returned to his seat.

21th Assembly District

Education-conscious Alfano deserves re-election

      Since 1999, state Assemblyman Tom Alfano has taken students from local schools on field trips to the Capitol in Albany.
      The day usually begins in the Assembly Chamber, where Alfano, a Republican who has represented the 21st District since 1996, discusses the state budget and how he takes his constituents' concerns about crime, taxes, roads and more to his colleagues. Students have toured the governor's War Room and the Senate Chamber, and have been briefed on current issues on the floor by Speaker Sheldon Silver and Gov. George Pataki.
      The purpose of these trips is to give grade school and high school students a living, breathing introduction to government in action. But the real reason for them is Alfano's belief in public education.
      Since he took office in a special election for then-Assemblyman Vincent Muscarella's seat in 1996, Alfano, the Assembly's assistant minority leader, has made good on his promise to support local schools. With school budgets rising at rates never seen before, Alfano helped deliver more than $5 million in state aid to local school districts last year. In addition, he continually brings home grant money, particularly for items not in schools' spending plans. Just weeks ago, he delivered a grant to the Franklin Square School District for a spotlight in a school playground that was the recent target of vandals, and surveillance cameras outside entrances.
      In addition to education, Alfano worked to make Elmont part of the first Empire Zone in Nassau County, which offers tax incentives for new and expanding businesses. He also co-prime sponsored Dillon's Law, which stiffened penalties for injuring or killing a police officer as well as illegal gun trafficking. Under the law, which applies to corrections officers and peace officers as well as police officers, manslaughter convictions carry sentences ranging from seven to 30 years and attempted murder convictions carry 20- to 40-year sentences. And gun-trafficking convictions are punishable by up to 25 years in prison. Dillon's Law is named for NYPD Detective Dillon Stewart, an Elmont resident who was shot and killed in the line of duty.
      Law-making aside, Alfano has proved just as helpful to the community at large. After a brilliant Elmont Memorial High School student born outside the country tried unsuccessfully to get a green card -- even though she was in the government's file and had an alien registration number -- Alfano stepped in. He worked with Congressman Peter King, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies, and got her paperwork in order. The girl is now studying at Harvard.
      Given the time he spends in each community in the 21st District, his track record in Albany and the personal relationships he has developed with constituents, Alfano has established himself as one of the most dedicated elected officials in the area.
      His opponent, Judge Alfred Cooper, is an informed, experienced candidate who spent six years as a District Court judge. There's little doubt that, given his knowledge of law, he would be an effective policy maker. But Alfano, who is also a lawyer, has proved for a decade that he can get the job done. The Herald enthusiastically endorses Alfano.