By DAVE VIESER
Barra, Bergstein lack advantage of incumbency
A funny thing happened on the way to the race for the New York State Assembly in the 21st District this year: neither candidate is an incumbent. Republican Robert Barra of Lynbrook will try again for his elusive first political victory, while Independent Party candidate Alan Bergstein of Valley Stream, a former Republican who is running with Democratic endorsement, will seek to prove the GOP was wrong to abandon him. At stake is control of a district that encompasses Valley Stream, Lynbrook, Rockville Centre and parts of East Rockaway, Oceanside, Baldwin and Malverne.
The unusual situation was created when Republican incumbent Jim Darcy was tapped to run for the Hempstead Town Board. In an ironic twist, both candidates find themselves in their positions as a result of losing elections during last year's voter rebellion in Nassau: Barra lost out on a bid for the Hempstead Town Board seat to which he had been briefly appointed, and Bergstein lost a narrow race for reelection as a District Court Judge. Although the district usually votes Republican, the county's fiscal chaos, as well as the lack of an incumbent, has thrown significant unknowns into the contest.
Recognizing that this is not a "normal" election, Republican Barra started his campaign during the summer. He started walking the district right after Memorial Day, meeting as many potential constituents as possible. "I estimate that we have been to at least 60 of the election districts already, and it is my goal to walk door to door in every one of the 100 election districts between now and Election Day," said Mr. Barra. "I feel that's the only way a candidate can get a true sense of the issues which are of concern to the people I hope to represent."
What kind of concerns are the residents of the district voicing? Republican Barra says that adequate funding for public education tops the list, along with health insurance, especially for the elderly, property tax relief, enactment of common sense gun control laws, and enforcement of gun control laws already on the books.
Alan Bergstein, Mr. Barra's opponent, also has been busy meeting the residents of the 21st AD. However, he says that the county's fiscal problems have been number one on the minds of the constituents he has met door to door and at train stations in the district. "There is a great deal of anger at the Republican Party in this county," he said, "and I think you are going to see that anger demonstrated by the way people vote on Election Day."
Mr. Bergstein, who also will be running on the Liberal and Working Party lines, says he would establish a team of six of the best Wall Street lawyers he could find to develop a plan that would effectively deal with the county's mushrooming debt. "These people deal with this type of problem on a daily basis. We should be tapping into their expertise," he said.
Other issues he hears about from district residents include the cost of education and school property-tax relief, preservation of the environment, breast cancer research, and the need for clean, affordable drinking water. "Lots of people on the west end of the district are still not happy with the quality or the cost of the water. That's an issue which must be addressed," he said.
Mr. Bergstein, 62, an attorney, started his public career with the Village of Cedarhurst, serving as a member of the Board of Zoning Appeals (1971-1973). He was then Deputy Village Attorney from 1973-1981, and trustee from 1981 until elected to the District Court in November, 1993. He is married and has two grown children.
His experiences as an attorney and a judge, as well as his independence, will serve him well in the Assembly, Mr. Bergstein believes. "I am my own man, and I have a broad knowledge of the issues, as well as the solutions to the problems on the minds of our residents."
Mr. Barra, 40, a lifelong Lynbrook resident, served as an assistant to State Sen. Dean Skelos, was elected to the Lynbrook Village Board of Trustees, and was appointed to the Hempstead Town Board in 1999. He is married to the former Celeste Dantona, and they have two daughters, Alexandra (8) and Erica (3).
He cites his years of experience with Sen. Skelos as his greatest asset. "I learned so much working with Dean, and I know that I will be able to do the right thing for our residents if I am elected," Mr. Barra said.
Look for an increase in campaign activities as October progresses, including possible cable-TV ads from the candidates. Ultimately, however, it will be the voters of the 21st AD who will have the final say as to which of these non-incumbents will become an incumbent.
