Politics & Government

Voter's Guide 2010: The Candidates

Here is a final run-down of the candidates you have to choose between when the polls open next Tuesday.

Cuomo, Paladino. Schumer, Townshend. Gillibrand, DioGuadari. Bishop, Altschuler. Flanagan, Bernstein. Fitzpatrick, Macellaro.

These are the names you've been hearing on dozens of media outlets and reading on hundreds of for-and-against political signs throughout Smithtown. Here is a final summary of the major party candidates for 2010 Election Day on Nov. 2.

New York State Governor:

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D – Andrew Cuomo - As New York Attorney General, Cuomo investigated the state pension fund, the student loan industry and Wall Street corruption. As governor, Cuomo says he will consolidate state government and focus on revitalizing New York by bringing in new jobs. Republican opponent Carl Paladino and others blame Cuomo's expansion of mortgage loans when he was secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under President Clinton for fueling the housing crisis.

R – Carl Paladino - Paladino defeated Rick Lazio and pushed out Suffolk County's own Steve Levy for the Republican nomination. The focus of Paladino's campaign is overhaul in Albany. He says he plans to declare a fiscal state of emergency and will cut the state budget by 10 to 20 percent by freezing compensation of state employees, among other budget trimming measures. Paladino, a lawyer and businessman from Buffalo, has faced controversy during the campaign, accused of sending explicit e-mails and making offensive statements towards the homosexual community.

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U.S. Senate:

D Sen. Charles Schumer - Schumer, New York's senior senator, was elected in 1998. Prior to being elected Senator, Schumer spent nearly 20 years in the House of Representatives. His voting record includes support for measures that discourage offshoring of American jobs, the creation of the Small Business Lending Fund Program, and the health care public option (which he drafted).

R Jay Townsend - Townsend is a businessman who formed The Townsend Group, an advertising agency based in Orange County, in 1993. He has lashed out against what he has called "the Obama spending spree" and has been an outspoken critic of the recent health care plan supported by Schumer. If elected, Townsend has said he plans to vote to repeal it.

U.S. Senate:

D Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand - Gillibrand says job creation and economic development are her highest priorities. She voted in February to support the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and supported measures that provide tax cuts for middle class families. She also believes in increased access to healthcare, controlling medical costs, and she supported the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the so-called public healthcare option.

R Joseph DioGuardi - DioGuardi believes government spending is out of control and is running on a platform of fiscal responsibility and budget reform. He also supports increased access to healthcare and controlling medical costs, but does not believe it should be legislated. Instead he believes that it should be accomplished within the private sector.

U.S. Congress, New York State's First District:

D – Rep. Tim Bishop (Southampton) - Bishop has admitted this year's race is the toughest of his four re-election bids, though he believes it's due to a "reflection primarily of the times" more so than anything he has or has not done. Bishop has labeled Republican candidate Randy Altschuler as an outsider and an outsourcer, pointing to his relatively new move to the district three years ago and founding role in Office Tiger, a company that provides jobs overseas. As a native of Southampton and former Provost of Southampton College, Bishop is hoping his track record getting federal funds to the area and past experiences with voters help win him a fifth term.

R – Randy Altschuler (St. James) - Randy Altschuler took many of the same punches Bishop is throwing now to win a 3-way September primary and land on the November ballot. While he says people respond better to a positive message, Altschuler has linked Bishop to an unpopular Congress and Democratic party both in his ads and in an interview with Patch. Altschuler is a self-made multi-millionaire who has spent $2 million of his own money on the campaign, and is marketing himself as someone who can manage a budget without asking taxpayers for more money.

New York State Senate, Second District:

R – John Flanagan (East Northport) - Incumbent Flanagan was first elected to represent the second district of New York in 2002, and has been re-elected by an overwhelming majority since. He serves as ranking Republican member of the Education committee, as well as the committees on Aging; Codes; Consumer Protection; Higher Education; and Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation. Since being elected to office, Flanagan has supported the implementation of the STAR Rebate Program in 2006 and is fighting to repeal the MTA Payroll tax. In September, he received top marks from the Business Council of New York State for his support of job creation.

D – Ira Bernstein (Selden) - Bernstein is a financial services advisor and former Commack School District teacher. The challenger said Flanagan has stopped representing and fighting the values held by his late father. Bernstein claims to have seen first hand the devastating effects educational aid cuts have had on Commack School District, and wants to see them restored by fighting for increase of public school funding. The challengers proposes tax cuts, increased transparency in state government, providing stronger incentives for job creation while protecting the environment. If elected, Bernstein said he will treat the office as a full-time job with his dedication to serving in Albany

New York State Assembly, Seventh District:

R – Michael Fitzpatrick (Smithtown) - Fitzpatrick has served in the assembly since 2002. Prior to his election to the Assembly he was an elected member of the Smithtown Town Council for 15 years and ran an unsuccessful campaign for the first congressional seat. Fitzpatrick serves as the ranking minority member on the  Housing Committee and holds memberships on the Local Governments, Small Business and Higher Education committees. He is an active member of the Smithtown community.

D – Richard Macellaro (Kings Park) - Macellaro was a special assistant for two NYS Assembly members and has worked as a home health-care administrator and a founding member of the non-profit organization, St. Nicholas N. P. Corp., which aims to find community solutions. A major part of his campaign is funding local job creation.


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