ACTION ALERT: World AIDS Day is 12-1: You Can Make A Difference

ACTION ALERT: World AIDS Day 12-1: You Can Make A Difference

We Remember!

With Love,
Tommy

World AIDS Day: You Can Make A Difference

Wear a red ribbon, and make some extras to pass out. Tell people to
Get Tested and to play safer Each and Every time!  Pass this message
on.

World AIDS Day is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight
against HIV. Do something to mark World AIDS Day, you can also find out the
facts

www.worldaidsday.org/

Events - World Aids Day
Every year World AIDS Day events take place across the country to raise
awareness and show support for people living with HIV. Why not pop along to a
local event.

www.worldaidsday.org/events/

WORLD AIDS DAY « World Aids Campaign
World AIDS Day is celebrated on December 1 each year around the world. It has
become one of the most recognised international health days.

www.worldaidscampaign.org/world-aids-day/

WORLD AIDS DAY 2011 « World Aids Campaign
World AIDS Day this year is about “Getting to Zero.” Zero New HIV infections.
This builds on last year's successful World AIDS Day “Light for Rights”

www.worldaidscampaign.org/world-aids-day/world-aids-day-2011/

From The Huffington Post by Susan Smith Ellis
CEO of (RED)

The novelist David Rhodes once wrote that life's fundamental narrative
begins with "I" and ends with "you." Everything in between is
conveyance from one person to another. What we convey is what matters.

The basic idea of (RED)™ is transactional conveyance; I buy a
(RED)-branded product, be it an Apple iPod, a Nike shoelace or a Gap
tee-shirt, and a percentage of the profit from that sale goes to the
Global Fund. The Global Fund administers a well-managed network of
health care projects in sub-Saharan Africa to help stem the spread of
AIDS. Somewhere in Ghana or Rwanda or Botswana, someone gets
antiretroviral medication which keeps them alive or reduces the
likelihood that they will transmit HIV to their unborn or just-born
child. And so that someone, who otherwise might die or be destined to
die, lives or bequeaths a more promising life instead. It's a good
deal.

On World AIDS Day, we don't celebrate with fireworks or champagne. We
take note of what has been accomplished and we resolve to keep at it.
We are proud of what our partners have accomplished. We like to say
that they have gained market share for life (and for themselves) and
in so doing they have changed the course of a part of human history.

In 2006, it was estimated that only 8% of HIV-positive pregnant women
in Ghana received the antiretroviral medicine necessary to reduce the
chance of transmitting HIV to their unborn children. Without the
medicine, the chances of HIV transmission were (and are) roughly
50-50. With the medicine, the chances of HIV transmission drop to
between 1 and 2%. By the end of 2008, nearly 40% of Ghanaian women in
need received the medicine that will transform the lives of their
children. That is market share for life. And it is growing
year-over-year.

On this World AIDS Day, there is improvement in HIV detection across
sub-Saharan Africa. The percentage of pregnant women who were able to
take an HIV test increased from 17% in 2007 to 28% in 2008. We have
every reason to believe that the percentage figure will increase
substantially again this year (the final data are not yet available).
The goal obviously is to keep ramping up testing until the chain of
HIV transmission from mother to child is one day broken altogether.
That day is coming, if we keep after it.

AIDS is not just an African disease, of course. World AIDS Day is
testament to the fact that AIDS is a global problem. (RED) focuses on
AIDS in Africa because that is where the need is most acute. Nearly 14
million children in Africa have been orphaned because of AIDS. There
are an estimated 2 million children living with HIV around the globe,
90% of them are in Africa. More than 90% of the children living with
HIV are infected through mother-to-child transmission during
pregnancy, around the time of birth or through breast-feeding. This is
a fixable catastrophe ($26 covers the cost of providing medication to
a pregnant woman to sharply reduce the risk of HIV transmission to her
child). And that is where your (RED) dollars go, $26 at a time.

All around the world tonight, from San Francisco to Chicago to
Pittsburgh to Los Angeles to Salt Lake City to Dublin, Ireland and
London, England, cities will bathe their municipal buildings and town
halls and key landmarks and architectural masterpieces in (RED)
lights. All across the Internet, on the pages of Facebook and Twitter
and Google, there will be links to (RED) and its partners. An ocean
and a world away, in the pre-dawn hours of sub-Saharan Africa, men and
women will begin their daily work of doing battle with a viral killer,
a battle financed in part by the purchases of (RED)-branded products
by people like you.

As the CEO of (RED), I have the privilege of working with great
partners at the Global Fund and at some of the world's most iconic
brands. Every day, I get to work with a dedicated group of
professionals who have devoted themselves to a great conveyance. On
behalf of all of them, I thank you for your support of (RED) branded
products and the work that it enables.

World AIDS Day this year is better than it was a year ago. It will be
better still a year from now. We just have to keep after it.


More:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/susan-smith-ellis/world-aids-day-you-can-ma_b_374453.html

Do something to mark World AIDS Day, you can also find out the
facts. Pass this message on.

www.worldaidsday.org/


--
Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
Have a great day,
Tommy

GET READY: Massive Day of Occupy Action in New York Thursday

GET READY: Massive Day of Occupy Action in New York Thursday
Pass this on to everyone.
Occupy Schedule for Thursday:
7:00 AM, protesters gather in Liberty Plaza - Zucotti Park
Only small bags and signs allowed, no camping gear is permitted in the
park according to the new rules. You may be subjected to search before
entering the park.
Shut Down Wall Street
Dramatic unauthorized street theater is planned.
Students from universities across the city plan to walk out of class.
Walkouts will be occurring all day on different campuses, but,
according to organizer Zoltán Glück, will converge on Union Square at
3 PM and then will march down to Foley Square to meet the rest of the
protesters.
3:00pm — Occupy the Subway
We will gather at 3:00pm at 16 central subway hubs and take our own stories to the trains, using the "People's Mic"
5:00 PM Mass Rally at Foley Square.
Take the Square, Festival of Lights on Brooklyn Bridge
At 5:00pm thousands will gather at Foley Square in solidarity with laborers demanding jobs to rebuild this country's infrastructure and economy. They will encircle City Hall and march across the Brooklyn Bridge, carrying thousands of handheld lights, as a festival of lights to celebrate two months of a new movement to reclaim our democracy.

At the end of the rally, OWS declares that there will be a march to the bridges.
Wear comfortable shoes, warm clothing, and if possible have at least
$100.00 for your own bail in case of arrest. Bring signs, whistles,
pots pans and spoons to make some noise.
Updates and more info here: OccupyWallSt.org

Undaunted by Crackdown, Occupy Wall Street and New York Activists Plan
Massive Day of Action
Just days after the brutal raid on the Occupy movement's home base in
Liberty Plaza, a huge day of action is planned to take the movement to
another level.

New York's 99 percent aren't letting a massive middle-of-the-night
police raid get them down.
November 17, the two-month anniversary of the Liberty Plaza occupation
in Manhattan's financial district, has been the center of plans for
massive actions for weeks now, and the crackdown by billionaire mayor
Michael Bloomberg's forces early Tuesday morning has only given new
determination to the organizers and activists.
“Everyone as of last night was totally exhausted and drained,” Olivia
Leirer of New York Communities for Change told me, “But ready to put
their energy into the 17th and to make sure the energy on the 17th is
not about the police crackdown, but about the message of the
movement.”
That message will be heard across New York's five boroughs, from
morning til evening, on Thursday. “Storytelling and getting people's
voices heard is the major theme that's running throughout everything
that's happening tomorrow. There will be plenty of opportunities from
sunup to sundown for people to come and tell their stories,” Leirer
said.
According to the OccupyWallSt.org website (which is not run by the
Liberty Plaza occupiers but an affinity group), starting at 7:00 AM,
protesters will gather in Liberty Plaza and gather to “exchange
stories rather than stocks.” Details are few, but rumors are flying
that some dramatic unauthorized street theater is planned.
Students from universities across the city plan to walk out of class
on Thursday as well. All week, students have held events as part of a
coordinated Week of Action, including a lecture by acclaimed author
and activist Arundhati Roy in Washington Square Park, a rally at
Columbia Law School in support of locked-out Sotheby's art handlers,
teach-ins, and much more.
“The real threat to health, safety, and democracy in our communities
dwells in the boardrooms of Wall Street firms and universities that
are destroying our economy, dismantling our education, and corrupting
our political system - not among non-violent demonstrators spending
cold nights in tents in Liberty Square,” said Aaron Winslow, a student
at Columbia University, in a statement.
The student strike, like all of the November 17 actions, was planned
ahead of time in solidarity with the activists in Liberty Plaza, but
will no doubt now have new meaning for those involved. Walkouts will
be occurring all day on different campuses, but, according to
organizer Zoltán Glück, will converge on Union Square at 3 PM and then
will march down to Foley Square to meet the rest of the protesters.
“The novelty of this,” Glück told me, “is the new level of
coordination and collective action and solidarity between all the
schools. There's always been organizing on different campuses, but now
they're working together. Occupy Wall Street has provided the form and
the forum for a dialogue to be opened up. This is building, and at
this moment when it feels like we've lost a lot of territory.”
Around the city, meanwhile, subway stops will see action as well, as
16 central subway hubs will see activists telling their stories,
handing out flyers, and bringing the message of the Occupy Wall Street
movement to the outer boroughs, to people who don't normally come
across the protest in Liberty Plaza. According to the OccupyWallSt.org
site, these actions will begin at 3 PM.
The centerpiece of the day will be a massive, permitted rally at Foley
Square, the site of October 5th's big union solidarity march and of a
temporary meeting ground early Tuesday morning as protesters thrown
out of Liberty Plaza searched for someplace to regroup.
“It's not going to be a traditional rally or march at all, it's going
to be creative and exciting, we're really thrilled about the energy
that's been put into it,” Leirer told me.
She said that rather than a rally where speakers address a crowd of
listeners, instead there will be soapboxes set up throughout the
space, for everyone in the 99% to come and speak their piece, tell
their story to the crowd. “It's the physical embodiment of the 'We are
the 99%' concept,” she said.
Finally, at the end of the day, the website declares that there will
be a march to the bridges. Though it doesn't specify which bridge, the
site does say:
“Let's make it as musical a march as possible - bring your songs, your
voice, your spirit! Our "Musical" on the bridge will culminate in a
festival of light as we mark the two-month anniversary of the #occupy
movement, and our commitment to shining light into our broken economic
and political system.”
Leirer pointed out that the day was planned well in advance of
Bloomberg's raid on the park, and that hopefully the day will remind
everyone what the real message of the movement is. She doesn't think
the crackdown will stop the movement—just the opposite.
“I think that the Occupy movement is so much bigger than the park, and
what's happened across the country and the solidarity that we've seen
from groups like ours, labor unions, we've seen this new invigoration
to the work that we've been doing forever.”
More:
http://www.alternet.org/story/153094/undaunted_by_crackdown,_occupy_wall_street_and_new_york_activists_plan_massive_day_of_action/?page=entire
--
Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
Have a great day,
Tommy

TAKE ACTION: Get Voters Out to the Polls TUESDAY and ROCK THE VOTE!

TAKE ACTION: Get Voters Out to the Polls TUESDAY and ROCK THE VOTE!

Pass This Message On To Everyone in your Address Book.

Election day is Tuesday, November 8th.

This is an off-year election, but there are many important local races
and referendums on the ballot Tuesday. Every vote counts. It is your
civic duty and your Constitutional right to vote.
Please do some homework before you vote. Read
your local publications, voters guide,  and listen to news outlets to
see who and what is on the ballot in your Election District. Ask
people who they are voting for and why. Find out where the candidates
stand on the issues. Then get out and ROCK THE VOTE!

Please pass this message on, and bring friends, family, and co-workers
to the polls.

For More information on where and when to vote go to:

Rock The Vote

http://www.rockthevote.org/


Election day is Tuesday, November 8th.
We have very little time left to make this
important voter turnout drive succeed.

This year is a local election year, so there is a great deal at stake.
The way to get the change we need is to elect the
right leaders. There are many important election contests and
referendums on the ballot.

Voting is one of the most important things that you can do.
Every vote counts, and your vote and participation in this voter
turnout drive can make all the difference. It is your civic duty and
your Constitutional right to vote, and your help is needed to get
others out to vote.

If you are registered to vote, please get out and vote. If you
are not registered to vote, register now.

Registering to vote is easy and free. You simply fill out a form and
mail it to your local Board of Elections. You can get a form from Rock
The Vote or from your Board of Elections.

You can register to vote at any time. Get started now.

Educate yourself. Learn who and what is on your ballot before you go
to the polls. Read the voters guide in your local newspaper or online,
visit the candidate’s websites, and ask like minded people in your
area who they are voting for and why. If they say they are not
voting, please ask them why not and tell them why they should vote!

Rock The Vote has made voting easier with the information you need.
But you must act now, Election Day is November 8th!

Please join in and make your plans to vote, help get other voters out,
and then pass this important message on to everyone in your address
book. If you target and talk to people, they will vote.

Voter Registration Deadlines

http://www.longdistancevoter.org/voter_registration_deadlines

Click Here to see how you and help
Rock The Vote!

http://rockthevote.org/

Dear Rock the Vote Friends,

Rock the Vote joined with Live Earth as its partner. On
7-7-07, millions of people worldwide experienced Live Earth: The
Concerts for a Climate in Crisis. In doing so, they were making the
commitment to take action against the climate crisis. Besides the
hundreds of thousands of people attending the Live Earth concerts on
seven continents, over 10,000 “Friends of Live Earth’ in 195 countries
participated in house parties to watch the event and at least ten
million more people viewed the concerts online.

Don’t be left behind! Join the millions of people across the world who
have pledged to take action against the climate crisis.

Together, we will solve the climate crisis.

Remember to register to vote because you can’t vote if you’re not
registered! Why is voting important when it comes to stopping the
climate crisis? Well, here are some things to consider:

- The U.S. president inherited a country that makes up less than 5%
of the world’s population but produces nearly a quarter of the world’s
greenhouse gases.

- Legislation regarding environmental issues is crafted by the
lawmakers YOU elect.

- Congress appropriates the funds for the development of clean
renewable energy sources.

- The administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, which has
the legal responsibility to regulate carbon emissions, will be
appointed by the president.

Register now at and tell your friends to register as well.

The future is now. We cannot wait. Together we will make a difference.

Get Ready Rock The Vote: Tuesday 11-8 is Election Day

This November 8th is Election Day in The United States of America. It
is your Constitutional right and your civic duty as an American to
vote. Your vote matters, EACH and EVERY vote counts! This year’s
elections offer you some important opportunities to make your vote
count!

I urge you to get ready to vote Tuesday, November 8th. Voting is one
of the most important things that you can do. The polls open early,
and stay open late. The time to act is now. Get out and vote, don’t
miss your chance to make a difference!

Tell your friends, family, co-workers and neighbors to vote. Remind
them that election day is November 8th. Offer to bring people to the
polls or go with them. Pass this message on to everyone in your
address book.

Rock The Vote!

Tuesday, November 8th

http://www.rockthevote.com/

November 8th–Election Day 2011–is just around the corner.
The bottom line is if you target and talk to people they will vote.
Get Involved!

Click Here to Rock The Vote:

http://www.rockthevote.com/

You can register to vote at any time. Get started now.

Please forward this message on to everyone.

Voter Registration Deadlines

http://www.longdistancevoter.org/voter_registration_deadlines

For More information on where and when to vote go to:

Rock The Vote

http://www.rockthevote.org/

Pass This Message On To Everyone in your Address Book.


--
Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
Have a great day,
Tommy

ACTION ALERT: New York State Voters Please Read and Forward:. ROCK THE VOTE TUESDAY!

ACTION ALERT: New York State Voters Please Read and Forward:
ROCK THE VOTE TUESDAY!
ACTION ALERT: New York State Voters Please Read and Forward to Others

Please pass this message on, and bring friends, family, and co-workers
to the polls.
For More information on where and when to vote go to:
Rock The Vote
http://www.rockthevote.org/
Please Pass This Urgent Message On To Anyone you know on Long Island, New York
Vote Steve Bellone For Suffolk County NY Executive and
Re-Elect Phil Nolan Islip Town Supervisor
To All New York State Residents From The Empire State Pride Agenda:
http://www.prideagenda.org/Campaigns-and-Elections/2011-Election-Center.aspx
Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 8, 2011, is Election Day in New York
State. The Pride Agenda has made endorsements in five local races and
we’re urging you to spread the word and vote for these candidates if
you’re in their district:
Brad Bender - Council member in the Town of Southampton
Sandy Frankel - Monroe County Executive
Nick Haddad - Mayor of Hudson
Don Moore - Common Council President of Hudson
Michael Sabatino – Yonkers City Council, 3rd district
We are confident these candidates will champion our issues and advance
equality and justice for LGBT New Yorkers and our families.
The Pride Agenda, in its 20-year history, has worked broadly in New
York State’s electoral politics. This legacy of electoral work has
helped make the Pride Agenda and the LGBT community a strong political
force in New York State.
We believe that every candidate and elected official can play a
valuable role in raising the profile of the issues that are important
to the LGBT community. Local elections are important in building a
base of support across the state that is committed to our issues. Many
local officials then run for state legislative or even statewide
office, making this bench of candidates critical. This work takes time
but the payoff is great. We have achieved more than 70 governmental
victories as a direct result of having strong allies in elected office
and endorsements have proven to be one of our most effective tools we
have for educating candidates and building relationships from early in
their campaigns.
Our endorsement criteria are rigorous, and the first step in being
considered is completing and submitting our questionnaire. All of our
endorsed candidates gave positive responses regarding the many issues
we have identified as part of our agenda. This includes support for a
statewide human rights law to prohibit discrimination based on gender
identity and expression, and state funding for community-based
programming to meet the specific health and human service needs of
LGBT people in areas like mental health, substance abuse, domestic
violence and homeless services.
Help us elect these local candidates who will advance LGBT equality
and justice. Vote for Brad Bender, Sandy Frankel, Nick Haddad, Don
Moore and Michael Sabatino on Tuesday, November 8! Let your friends in
these districts know about these candidates’ pledges to stand by our
community. The addition of these voices will help ensure New York
State continues a proud tradition of leadership on issues that are of
concern to us.
We know we can count on you to support the Empire State Pride Agenda
Inc.’s Political Action Committee so we can continue to support
pro-LGBT candidates in our continued march towards equality and
justice.
With gratitude and hope,

Ross D. Levi
Executive Director
Empire State Pride Agenda
More Here:
http://www.prideagenda.org/Campaigns-and-Elections/2011-Election-Center.aspx
Suffolk County Residents:
Vote Democrat Steve Bellone For County Executive
Do Not Let GOP Angie Carpenter Win.
Steve Bellone for County Executive
Steve's record is simply outstanding. He has received numerous honors
including being named "Government Official of the Year" by the
Association for a Better Long Island, one of the region's largest
business groups.
Steve Bellone is Endored by Governor Andrew Cuomo and Senator Chuck Schumer.
Visit:
http://stevebellone.com/
Islip Town Residents:
Re-Elect Democrat Incumbant Phil Nolan Islip Town Supervisor
Do Not Let Former Bush Administration Member GOP Tom Croci win!
In his five years as Islip Town Supervisor, Phil Nolan has led with a
record of accountability, productivity, and fiscal control. Praised by
the New York Times as a “nuts-and-bolts manager,” Supervisor Nolan has
instituted policies that have saved taxpayers millions of dollars,
while keeping Town taxes the lowest on Long Island.
Visit:
http://www.townofislip-ny.gov/about-islip/elected-officials/supervisor-nolan
ACTION ALERT: New York State Voters Please Read and Forward to Others.
ROCK THE VOTE TUESDAY!
--
Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
Have a great day,
Tommy

ALERT: Vote Steve Bellone For Suffolk County NY Executive and Phil Nolan for Islip Town Supervisor

ALERT: Vote Steve Bellone For Suffolk County NY Executive and Phil
Nolan for Islip Town Supervisor

Please Pass This Message On To Anyone you know on Long Island, New York

Vote Democrat Steve Bellone For County Executive
Do Not Let GOP Angie Carpenter Win.

Steve Bellone for County Executive
Steve's record is simply outstanding. He has received numerous honors
including being named "Government Official of the Year" by the
Association for a Better Long Island, one of the region's largest
business groups.
Steve Bellone is Endored by Governor Andrew Cuomo and Senator Chuck Schumer.

Visit:
http://stevebellone.com/

Re-Elect Democrat Incumbant Phil Nolan Islip Town Supervisor
Do Not Let GOP Tom Croci win!
In his five years as Islip Town Supervisor, Phil Nolan has led with a
record of accountability, productivity, and fiscal control. Praised by
the New York Times as a “nuts-and-bolts manager,” Supervisor Nolan has
instituted policies that have saved taxpayers millions of dollars,
while keeping Town taxes the lowest on Long Island.

Visit:
http://www.townofislip-ny.gov/about-islip/elected-officials/supervisor-nolan

Election Day is Tuesday: Lets get the Repugnant Obstructionists voted
out of office!

This is an off-year election, but there are many important local races
and referendums on the ballot Tuesday. Every vote counts. It is your
civic duty and responsibility to vote. Please do some homework before
you vote. Read your local publications, voters guide,  and listen to
news outlets to
see who and what is on the ballot in your Election District. Ask
people who they are voting for and why. Find out where the candidates
stand on the issues. Then get out and ROCK THE VOTE!

Please pass this message on, and bring friends, family, and co-workers
to the polls.

For More information on where and when to vote go to:

Rock The Vote

http://www.rockthevote.org/



For those who reside in Suffolk County, New York I am strongly urging
voters to get out and vote for Democrat Steve Bellone for Suffolk
County Executive.

Information Here:

http://stevebellone.com/


Long Island Town Supervisor Races to WatchBy Timothy Bolger on October
27th, 2011


Ten of the 13 town supervisors across Long Island are up for
re-election Nov. 8, offering a handful of hot contests. Chief among
them are two East End comeback candidates challenging the first-term
incumbents who unseated them.

Ex-Republican Southampton Supervisor Linda Kabot is running a write-in
campaign against her Democratic successor, Anna Throne-Holst. Kabot
lost in 2009 after a campaign-season drunken driving arrest but was
later acquitted.

In Riverhead, Democrat Phil Cardinale aims to oust Republican
Riverhead Supervisor Sean Walter, who beat Cardinale by 249 votes.

 Democratic Shelter Island Supervisor James Dougherty has two
challengers: Councilman Glenn Waddington, an independent candidate,
who wants a rematch, and GOP challenger Bob DeStefano, a retired
country club golf pro.

Most hopefuls in the other races are either perennial candidates or
public officials—or both.

Republican Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto’s Democratic opponent
is John Capobianco, a Farmingdale school board member who’s run for
Assembly and town clerk. Democratic Brookhaven Supervisor Mark Lesko
faces Republican Cecile Forte, a former Suffolk County Community
College dean who ran for town clerk last year.

Republican Tom Croci, an aide to state Sen. Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley),
wants to unseat Democratic Islip Supervisor Phil Nolan. Republican
Southold Supervisor Scott Russell faces Democrat Robert Meguin, a town
apointee. Republican East Hampton Supervisor Bill Wilkinson confronts
Democrat Zachary Cohen, a town committeeman.

Republican Lee Tu is seeking a rematch against Democratic North
Hempstead Supervisor John Kaiman.

The lone citizen-turned candidate besides DeStefano is Democrat Gary
Port, an attorney challenging GOP Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray.

Huntington and Smithtown supervisors are not up for re-election. If
Democratic Babylon Supervisor Steve Bellone wins the county executive
seat, the town board will appoint a replacement.

More:
http://www.longislandpress.com/2011/10/27/long-island-town-supervisor-races-to-watch/

Newsday Endorsements For The Suffolk County Legislature:

NEWSDAY EDITORIAL BOARD ENDORSEMENTS FOR SUFFOLK LEGISLATURE

Editorial: Romaine in Suffolk 1st District

Without Ed Romaine, 64, of Center Moriches, the county legislature
would be less fun. He can be wily and partisan, but he knows how to be
bipartisan, too, which makes him effective. He's smart on the issues
and entertainingly persuasive in debating them. He has deep
institutional knowledge, gained during 26 years as an elected official
in Suffolk: an earlier term as a legislator, service as county clerk,
plus campaigns for county executive and Congress.

Though he's in the minority, he has managed to get a lot done. His
exemplary record on open space preservation, for example, has won him
the endorsement of environmental groups. And he persuaded the
legislature to create an oversight committee to make recommendations
about the future of the Long Island Power Authority, a public entity
that the state's Public Service Commission does not regulate. The
committee's report is due soon.

His Democratic opponent, Tricia Chiaramonte, 40, of Manorville, did
not appear for an endorsement interview. Newsday endorses Romaine.



Editorial: Schneiderman in Suffolk 2nd Dist.

His independent streak makes Legis. Jay Schneiderman a bit of a man
without a political home, but it doesn't seem to have hurt his ability
to get something meaningful done for his constituents.

Schneiderman, 49, a member of the Independence Party from Montauk, saw
a need for Sunday bus service in his East End district, to serve
people who work for a living and have no other way to get back and
forth, and he got a pilot program going. This summer, it served almost
600 people per Sunday on two lines. Riders on those lines paid an
extra 50 cents to help defray the cost.

His Republican opponent, Cornelius Kelly, 39, of East Quogue, runs a
title insurance abstracting company. The issue that got him interested
in running this race was the county's housing homeless sex offenders a
few miles from his home. He says Schneiderman's independence from
either major party caucus impairs his effectiveness on that issue, and
deprives him of leverage. But that view is off the mark. Kelly is
energetic and appealing, but Schneiderman is indeed effective. Newsday
endorses Schneiderman.



Editorial: Browning in Suffolk 3rd District

Newsday endorsed incumbent Kate Browning two years ago, calling her a
valuable voice in the legislature for this working class district. She
still is.

Browning, 52, a member of the Working Families Party from Shirley, has
made ensuring the district doesn't become a dumping ground for sex
offenders her signature issue. She's been a force for deploying
electronic shot spotters where needed to allow police to pinpoint
gunfire. She won legislation directing social service officials to
develop standards for sober homes used by recovering addicts. And
she's working with housing groups to rehabilitate foreclosed homes and
sell them to first-time buyers.

Republican Susan Sineo, 49, of Manorville, is an insurance broker and
civic activist. The issue that animates her is compost facilities and
her conviction that they're harming residents' health. Her knowledge
of the issue is exhaustive, and she's a forceful advocate. But that's
not reason enough to turn out an incumbent so attuned to her district.
Newsday endorses Browning.



Editorial: Muratore in Suffolk 4th Dist.

Republican Thomas Muratore won this seat in 2009 after a second run
against Democrat Brian Beedenbender. This election appears easier for
Muratore, 66, of Ronkonkoma. Democratic opponent Joseph Turdik, 58, of
Selden, is not actively campaigning.

A legislative highlight for Muratore was passage of his law to cap
county sales taxes when gasoline exceeds $3 per gallon. In a new term,
he wants to freeze county property taxes, streamline permit processes
for businesses, keep homeless sex offenders housed in Riverhead and
Westhampton, allow more red-light cameras for safety, expand sewer
service as part of rebuilding the Ronkonkoma hub, and beef up police
ranks but ask police unions to help solve the county budget crisis.
Muratore's also fighting to preserve 50 acres at the community college
in Selden.

His 35 years with the Suffolk Police Department give him street-level
credibility and a make him a good judge of reality. Newsday endorses
Muratore.



Editorial: Hahn in Suffolk 5th District

Suffolk County's 5th Legislative District is up for grabs because term
limits will end the tenure of the incumbent, Vivian Viloria-Fisher.

The Republican candidate is Anthony Moncayo, 57, a lawyer and retired
Army officer who's been a Suffolk resident for 53 years. The Democrat
is Kara Hahn, 40, a Port Jefferson native and aide to the
legislature's presiding officer, William Lindsay (D-Holbrook). Both
candidates live in East Setauket, but the similarities end there.

Moncayo isn't convinced the county should operate a nursing home, but
Hahn wants to keep the John J. Foley Skilled Nursing Facility open.
Moncayo opposes a Shinnecock casino; Hahn doesn't. Moncayo opposes
selling any part of the county's large tract in Yaphank. Hahn would
preserve only the environmentally sensitive portion.

Hahn is sensible, articulate and knows the issues. Her challenge will
be making the transition from aide to legislator. Newsday endorses
Hahn.



Editorial: Wilutis in Suffolk 6th District

Sarah Anker, 47, is a community activist and Mount Sinai resident who
won a special election in March to represent Suffolk's 6th District in
the county legislature. A Democrat, she's now running for re-election
in her heavily Republican district against attorney Karen M. Wilutis,
53, a Republican from Miller Place.

Anker's heart is in the right place. She emphasizes communication,
cares about health and environmental issues, and stresses the
importance of creating jobs. Unfortunately, she lacks focus and
inclines toward anodyne generalities on the issues.

Wilutis' intelligence and legal background make her the preferred
candidate. She has extensive experience as town attorney and as a
planning board member for the Town of Brookhaven. She's been an
assistant district attorney and a small claims arbitrator. She's also
done legislative work for state Sen. John J. Flanagan (R-East
Northport).

Newsday endorses Wilutis.



Editorial: Calarco in Suffolk 7th District

Many of the critical issues Suffolk County faces have burned hottest
in this legislative district. It's where four innocents were massacred
in a drugstore, riveting attention on the county's prescription drug
problem. It's where Ecuadorean Marcelo Lucero was murdered in a burst
of anti-immigrant violence. And it's where Patchogue Village has set
the standard for the sort of smart growth the county needs.

Come January it will be represented by a political novice. Democrat
Robert Calarco, 32, of Patchogue, and Republican John Giannott, 40, of
East Patchogue are vying for the job vacated by Jack Eddington, who
decided not to seek re-election.

The two don't differ on many things. Both support expanded use of
red-light cameras, for instance, a public-private partnership to run
the Foley nursing home, and housing homeless sex offenders in
mini-shelters scattered around the county. Each would bring an
inclusive perspective to the immigration debate. And they both want
the county to hire more police -- which is unrealistic, given the
economic climate and what police are paid.

The difference is Calarco -- who has a master's degree in public
administration and has been Eddington's chief of staff for six years
-- has a better grasp of the complexities of the issues and what it
takes to get things done. For instance, he has a proposal to create a
county traffic enforcement bureau to capture some of the revenue from
tickets that now goes to Albany. That could help fund programs such as
more community policing and returning specialized police units, such
as drug enforcement, to local precincts.

Giannott, who owns Porters on the Lane and Carla Marla's Ice Cream
Parlor in Bellport, understands, firsthand, the need for the county to
make life easier for business. He's pragmatic and passionate about
expediting health department and other permit processes for start-up
companies like the second ice cream store he lost because of the long
wait for permits.

But Calarco has the edge in political savvy and experience with the
range of issues affecting this diverse district. Newsday endorses
Calarco.



Editorial: Lindsay in Suffolk 8th District

Anthony Musumeci, 34, is the kind of young person who is needed in
public life. He grew up in Sayville, married his Hofstra University
sweetheart, and had a couple of kids. Living now in Bohemia, Musumeci
works in his family's business. He's curious about the world and frank
about what he hasn't learned yet. But Musumeci, a Republican, is
running for the 8th Legislative District seat against a formidable
incumbent, William Lindsay, 65, who's been elected the legislature's
presiding officer six times in a row.

It's no wonder. The Holbrook Democrat has long experience -- term
limits will make his next two years in office his last -- and his
low-key style has made him a welcome counterpoint to Steve Levy, the
brash county executive. He is blunt about the county's budget woes,
offering no pat solutions. He was an early advocate of cameras at
stoplights, which have saved lives and generated revenue. He sensibly
favors small, distributed shelters -- rather than the current trailers
in Riverhead and Westhampton -- for the county's homeless former sex
offenders. Newsday endorses Lindsay.



Suffolk 9th District: Candidate unopposed

Ricardo Montano, 61, of Brentwood, is seeking his fifth term. Once
again, the Democrat from Central Islip is unopposed.



Editorial: Cilmi in Suffolk 10th District

Jim Heath, a 63-year-old Democrat from Ronkonkoma, works for the
Suffolk County Veterans Services Agency and is passionate about the
needs of those who serve the nation. He is convinced the county needs
to take care of its most challenged citizens, and support its police
officers. Heath is also refreshingly honest in admitting there are
county issues he doesn't know much about, like how to deal with the
challenges of the Health Services Department and the Foley nursing
home. He's wise to be honest about his lack of knowledge, but
understanding these issues is important.

Incumbent Republican Thomas Cilmi, 47, of Bay Shore, is seeking his
second term. One of his priorities is getting some transparency into
the county budget process, so that the public knows what is happening
and can comment on the spending plan before it is finalized. He also
wants the Health Services Department's permit processes streamlined,
the nursing home privatized and more cops on the streets, and says the
county cannot raise taxes right now. Cilmi is still learning the
ropes, but he's also spearheading some important issues. Newsday
endorses Cilmi.



Editorial: Barraga in Suffolk 11th Dist.

Republican Thomas Barraga, 68, of West Islip, is seeking a fourth term
in the county legislature -- after leaving behind his Assembly seat.
In his previous three legislature races, he won with about 62 percent
of the vote each time. His Democratic opponent, Frank Dolan, 58, also
of West Islip, declined to appear for an endorsement interview.

Barraga is a conservative with an independent streak and a commonsense
grasp of budget issues. He focuses much more heavily on shaping
budgets and on constituent service than on passing legislation. And
he's passionate about the need for big projects like the replacement
of the Tappan Zee Bridge and a new bridge or tunnel from Long Island
to Westchester, to bring jobs to the region.

Unlike many of his colleagues, Barraga says the county does not need
more police. And he feels Suffolk should work hard to answer the
issues raised by a Department of Justice investigation of its handling
of hate crimes.

Overall, he lends a useful, experienced voice of reason to the
legislature. Newsday endorses Barraga.



Editorial: Kennedy in Suffolk 12th District

Republican incumbent John Kennedy, 55, of Nesconset, came to the
legislature in a special election in 2004 and established himself as a
fiscal conservative with a soft spot for the environment. His
Democratic opponent, Martin Aponte, 50, lives in Hauppauge, where he's
a Democratic zone leader. Aponte chose not to interview for Newsday's
endorsement.

Kennedy, an attorney, became minority leader this year, and he has a
clear-eyed view of the county's problems. He considers the county
executive's 2012 budget the worst he's seen. While he says he's never
supported a general-fund tax increase, he can't rule out the
possibility. Some of the current financial gimmicks -- selling the
Foley nursing home to private interests, for example -- not only won't
work, they cut into what he sees as county government's core
responsibility for the health, safety and well-being of its citizens.
Kennedy favors expanding the county's red-light camera program, though
he wants the vendor contract reopened. He's the kind of pragmatic,
independent thinker Suffolk needs. Newsday endorses Kennedy.



Suffolk 13th District: Candidate unopposed

Lynn Nowick, 64, a Republican from St. James, is seeking her sixth
term. She is unopposed for re-election.



Editorial: Horsley in Suffolk 14th District

Suffolk County's 14th Legislative District, on the South Shore, is
represented by Babylon Village resident Wayne Horsley, 60, a Democrat
with a strong background in public finance and long experience in
state and local government.

His challenger is Republican Edward Blankenhorn, 70, a retired
Northrop Grumman engineer who specialized in cost analysis. A
Lindenhurst resident, the civic-minded Blankenhorn has been active on
school boards and in his church.

The candidates do not differ much on the issues. Both like the
red-light cameras that save lives and produce income for the county.
Both are unfortunately content with the current system of housing
homeless sex offenders in trailers in Riverhead and Westhampton. Both
want more sewers and both want the county to continue to operate the
John J. Foley Skilled Nursing Facility.

Blankenhorn is a thoughtful guy with skills that could be useful in
public life. But Horsley is a particularly intelligent and articulate
legislator with a sure grasp of the issues.

Newsday endorses Horsley.



Suffolk 15th District: Candidate unopposed

DuWayne Gregory, 42, of Amityville, won the seat in 2008 in a special
election, and then won a full term in 2009. This time, the Democratic
incumbent has no opponent.



Editorial: Poulos in Suffolk 16th District

Both Legis. Steve Stern, 43, (D-Dix Hills), and his Republican
opponent, Deborah Poulos, 57, also of Dix Hills, agree: Neither wants
to be a career politician. But Stern is seeking his fourth term.

He is proud of creating a "silver alert" program for the cognitively
impaired elderly who wander off and go missing. Overall, he has been
steady, but not distinguished.

Poulos, a divorce lawyer, thinks her ability to get feuding couples to
negotiate is a skill that will help in the legislature. She may be
right. This page has endorsed Stern in the past, but Poulos offers a
sensible, fresh approach that's worth trying. Newsday endorses Poulos.



Editorial: Garetano in Suffolk 17th Dist.

This race pits polished three-term Democratic incumbent Louis D'Amaro,
50, a lawyer from North Babylon, against pet-show promoter and former
South Huntington school board member Dennis Garetano, 59, a Huntington
Station Republican who lost to D'Amaro in 2005.

Both want to bring sewers to homes in Deer Park and North Babylon, and
restore 2012 funds for the Dolan medical clinic. But the contest has
been overshadowed by gangs and crime in Huntington Station, which led
to the closure of a middle school. D'Amaro says he increased police
presence. Garetano wants to go further, advocating an anti-gang unit
and the restoration of a police substation.

D'Amaro faults Garetano for fights and State Liquor Authority
violations at a West Hills bar he ran until the mid-2000s, and for
spotty attendance in his last year on the South Huntington school
board, after excellent attendance in six prior years.

The incumbent was stripped of a key committee chairmanship this year
after a failed coup to take over as presiding officer. His vote
against hiring a special counsel for the legislature's 2010 inquiry
into the county ethics commission was disappointing. That hiring
removed D'Amaro's wife, county attorney Christine Malafi, from the
case. D'Amaro says he did not recuse himself because the county ethics
board advised that generally no conflict exists for him when Malafi
gives legal advice to legislators. But in this matter, good judgment
required recusal.

A fresh start is needed. Garetano promises to bring an intense focus
to a troubled area of Huntington. Newsday endorses Garetano.



Editorial: Spencer in Suffolk's 18th Dist.

The race to fill the seat of term-limited Jon Cooper features two
strong contenders: Republican Elizabeth Black, 58, of Huntington
village, a retired secondary English teacher who's on the Huntington
School District board of trustees, and Democrat William Spencer, 44,
of Centerport, an otolaryngologist who has served as chairman of the
Town of Huntington Housing Authority's board.

Black's campaign is emphasizing job creation, but her experience with
the Jack Abrams School, which she voted to close, is one of the
reasons she's running for this office. She'd love to see students back
at the school some day, but says the area hasn't changed enough yet.
She thinks more cops on the street are essential to getting crime
under control and favors a new police class.

Spencer takes a more holistic view of crime, pointing to cultural
factors that lead to gang activity. He suggests that businesses with
county contracts offer internship programs to local youth. It's
typical of his expansive view of many of the county's challenges. He
has creative ideas -- from using rainy-day funds to pay off maturing
debt, thus raising the county's bond rating, to working with local
colleges to create a green degree, so alternative-energy companies
will have a talent pool here.

Black has great credentials and passion, but she didn't display the
breadth we see in her opponent. Spencer would enter the legislature
with an array of proposals that don't feel like they're out of the
same-old, same-old playbook. Newsday endorses Spencer.

More:
http://www.newsday.com/opinion/editorial-endorsements-for-suffolk-lawmakers-1.3285126

Rock The Vote

http://www.rockthevote.org/


Please pass this message on, and bring friends, family, and co-workers
to the polls.




--
Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
Have a great day,
Tommy

TAKE ACTION: Get Voters Out to the Polls TUESDAY and ROCK THE VOTE!

TAKE ACTION: Get Voters Out to the Polls TUESDAY and ROCK THE VOTE!

Pass This Message On To Everyone in your Address Book.

Election day is Tuesday, November 8th.

This is an off-year election, but there are many important local races
and referendums on the ballot Tuesday. Every vote counts. It is your
civic duty and your Constitutional right to vote.
Please do some homework before you vote. Read
your local publications, voters guide,  and listen to news outlets to
see who and what is on the ballot in your Election District. Ask
people who they are voting for and why. Find out where the candidates
stand on the issues. Then get out and ROCK THE VOTE!

Please pass this message on, and bring friends, family, and co-workers
to the polls.

For More information on where and when to vote go to:

Rock The Vote

http://www.rockthevote.org/


Election day is Tuesday, November 8th.
We have very little time left to make this
important voter turnout drive succeed.

This year is a local election year, so there is a great deal at stake.
The way to get the change we need is to elect the
right leaders. There are many important election contests and
referendums on the ballot.

Voting is one of the most important things that you can do.
Every vote counts, and your vote and participation in this voter
turnout drive can make all the difference. It is your civic duty and
your Constitutional right to vote, and your help is needed to get
others out to vote.

If you are registered to vote, please get out and vote. If you
are not registered to vote, register now.

Registering to vote is easy and free. You simply fill out a form and
mail it to your local Board of Elections. You can get a form from Rock
The Vote or from your Board of Elections.

You can register to vote at any time. Get started now.

Educate yourself. Learn who and what is on your ballot before you go
to the polls. Read the voters guide in your local newspaper or online,
visit the candidate’s websites, and ask like minded people in your
area who they are voting for and why. If they say they are not
voting, please ask them why not and tell them why they should vote!

Rock The Vote has made voting easier with the information you need.
But you must act now, Election Day is November 8th!

Please join in and make your plans to vote, help get other voters out,
and then pass this important message on to everyone in your address
book. If you target and talk to people, they will vote.

Voter Registration Deadlines

http://www.longdistancevoter.org/voter_registration_deadlines

Click Here to see how you and help
Rock The Vote!

http://rockthevote.org/

Dear Rock the Vote Friends,

Rock the Vote joined with Live Earth as its partner. On
7-7-07, millions of people worldwide experienced Live Earth: The
Concerts for a Climate in Crisis. In doing so, they were making the
commitment to take action against the climate crisis. Besides the
hundreds of thousands of people attending the Live Earth concerts on
seven continents, over 10,000 “Friends of Live Earth’ in 195 countries
participated in house parties to watch the event and at least ten
million more people viewed the concerts online.

Don’t be left behind! Join the millions of people across the world who
have pledged to take action against the climate crisis.

Together, we will solve the climate crisis.

Remember to register to vote because you can’t vote if you’re not
registered! Why is voting important when it comes to stopping the
climate crisis? Well, here are some things to consider:

- The U.S. president inherited a country that makes up less than 5%
of the world’s population but produces nearly a quarter of the world’s
greenhouse gases.

- Legislation regarding environmental issues is crafted by the
lawmakers YOU elect.

- Congress appropriates the funds for the development of clean
renewable energy sources.

- The administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, which has
the legal responsibility to regulate carbon emissions, will be
appointed by the president.

Register now at and tell your friends to register as well.

The future is now. We cannot wait. Together we will make a difference.

Get Ready Rock The Vote: Tuesday 11-8 is Election Day

This November 8th is Election Day in The United States of America. It
is your Constitutional right and your civic duty as an American to
vote. Your vote matters, EACH and EVERY vote counts! This year’s
elections offer you some important opportunities to make your vote
count!

I urge you to get ready to vote Tuesday, November 8th. Voting is one
of the most important things that you can do. The polls open early,
and stay open late. The time to act is now. Get out and vote, don’t
miss your chance to make a difference!

Tell your friends, family, co-workers and neighbors to vote. Remind
them that election day is November 8th. Offer to bring people to the
polls or go with them. Pass this message on to everyone in your
address book.

Rock The Vote!

Tuesday, November 8th

http://www.rockthevote.com/

November 8th–Election Day 2011–is just around the corner.
The bottom line is if you target and talk to people they will vote.
Get Involved!

Click Here to Rock The Vote:

http://www.rockthevote.com/

You can register to vote at any time. Get started now.

Please forward this message on to everyone.

Voter Registration Deadlines

http://www.longdistancevoter.org/voter_registration_deadlines

For More information on where and when to vote go to:

Rock The Vote

http://www.rockthevote.org/

Pass This Message On To Everyone in your Address Book.


--
Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
Have a great day,
Tommy

Election Day is Tuesday: Lets get the Repugnant Obstructionists voted out of office!

Election Day is Tuesday: Lets get the Repugnant Obstructionists voted out of office!

 This is an off-year election, but there are many important local races
and referendums on the ballot Tuesday. Every vote counts. It is your
civic duty to vote, and please do some homework before you vote. Read
your local publications, voters guide,  and listen to news outlets to
see who and what is on the ballot in your Election District. Ask
people who they are voting for and why. Find out where the candidates
stand on the issues. Then get out and ROCK THE VOTE!

Please pass this message on, and bring friends, family, and co-workers
to the polls.

For More information on where and when to vote go to:

Rock The Vote

http://www.rockthevote.org/



For those who reside in Suffolk County, New York I am strongly urging
voters to get out and vote for Democrat Steve Bellone for Suffolk
County Executive. -Tommy

Information Here:

http://stevebellone.com/


Long Island Town Supervisor Races to WatchBy Timothy Bolger on October
27th, 2011


Ten of the 13 town supervisors across Long Island are up for
re-election Nov. 8, offering a handful of hot contests. Chief among
them are two East End comeback candidates challenging the first-term
incumbents who unseated them.

Ex-Republican Southampton Supervisor Linda Kabot is running a write-in
campaign against her Democratic successor, Anna Throne-Holst. Kabot
lost in 2009 after a campaign-season drunken driving arrest but was
later acquitted.

In Riverhead, Democrat Phil Cardinale aims to oust Republican
Riverhead Supervisor Sean Walter, who beat Cardinale by 249 votes.

 Democratic Shelter Island Supervisor James Dougherty has two
challengers: Councilman Glenn Waddington, an independent candidate,
who wants a rematch, and GOP challenger Bob DeStefano, a retired
country club golf pro.

Most hopefuls in the other races are either perennial candidates or
public officials—or both.

Republican Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto’s Democratic opponent
is John Capobianco, a Farmingdale school board member who’s run for
Assembly and town clerk. Democratic Brookhaven Supervisor Mark Lesko
faces Republican Cecile Forte, a former Suffolk County Community
College dean who ran for town clerk last year.

Republican Tom Croci, an aide to state Sen. Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley),
wants to unseat Democratic Islip Supervisor Phil Nolan. Republican
Southold Supervisor Scott Russell faces Democrat Robert Meguin, a town
apointee. Republican East Hampton Supervisor Bill Wilkinson confronts
Democrat Zachary Cohen, a town committeeman.

Republican Lee Tu is seeking a rematch against Democratic North
Hempstead Supervisor John Kaiman.

The lone citizen-turned candidate besides DeStefano is Democrat Gary
Port, an attorney challenging GOP Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray.

Huntington and Smithtown supervisors are not up for re-election. If
Democratic Babylon Supervisor Steve Bellone wins the county executive
seat, the town board will appoint a replacement.

More:
http://www.longislandpress.com/2011/10/27/long-island-town-supervisor-races-to-watch/

Newsday Endorsements For The Suffolk County Legislature:

NEWSDAY EDITORIAL BOARD ENDORSEMENTS FOR SUFFOLK LEGISLATURE

Editorial: Romaine in Suffolk 1st District

Without Ed Romaine, 64, of Center Moriches, the county legislature
would be less fun. He can be wily and partisan, but he knows how to be
bipartisan, too, which makes him effective. He's smart on the issues
and entertainingly persuasive in debating them. He has deep
institutional knowledge, gained during 26 years as an elected official
in Suffolk: an earlier term as a legislator, service as county clerk,
plus campaigns for county executive and Congress.

Though he's in the minority, he has managed to get a lot done. His
exemplary record on open space preservation, for example, has won him
the endorsement of environmental groups. And he persuaded the
legislature to create an oversight committee to make recommendations
about the future of the Long Island Power Authority, a public entity
that the state's Public Service Commission does not regulate. The
committee's report is due soon.

His Democratic opponent, Tricia Chiaramonte, 40, of Manorville, did
not appear for an endorsement interview. Newsday endorses Romaine.



Editorial: Schneiderman in Suffolk 2nd Dist.

His independent streak makes Legis. Jay Schneiderman a bit of a man
without a political home, but it doesn't seem to have hurt his ability
to get something meaningful done for his constituents.

Schneiderman, 49, a member of the Independence Party from Montauk, saw
a need for Sunday bus service in his East End district, to serve
people who work for a living and have no other way to get back and
forth, and he got a pilot program going. This summer, it served almost
600 people per Sunday on two lines. Riders on those lines paid an
extra 50 cents to help defray the cost.

His Republican opponent, Cornelius Kelly, 39, of East Quogue, runs a
title insurance abstracting company. The issue that got him interested
in running this race was the county's housing homeless sex offenders a
few miles from his home. He says Schneiderman's independence from
either major party caucus impairs his effectiveness on that issue, and
deprives him of leverage. But that view is off the mark. Kelly is
energetic and appealing, but Schneiderman is indeed effective. Newsday
endorses Schneiderman.



Editorial: Browning in Suffolk 3rd District

Newsday endorsed incumbent Kate Browning two years ago, calling her a
valuable voice in the legislature for this working class district. She
still is.

Browning, 52, a member of the Working Families Party from Shirley, has
made ensuring the district doesn't become a dumping ground for sex
offenders her signature issue. She's been a force for deploying
electronic shot spotters where needed to allow police to pinpoint
gunfire. She won legislation directing social service officials to
develop standards for sober homes used by recovering addicts. And
she's working with housing groups to rehabilitate foreclosed homes and
sell them to first-time buyers.

Republican Susan Sineo, 49, of Manorville, is an insurance broker and
civic activist. The issue that animates her is compost facilities and
her conviction that they're harming residents' health. Her knowledge
of the issue is exhaustive, and she's a forceful advocate. But that's
not reason enough to turn out an incumbent so attuned to her district.
Newsday endorses Browning.



Editorial: Muratore in Suffolk 4th Dist.

Republican Thomas Muratore won this seat in 2009 after a second run
against Democrat Brian Beedenbender. This election appears easier for
Muratore, 66, of Ronkonkoma. Democratic opponent Joseph Turdik, 58, of
Selden, is not actively campaigning.

A legislative highlight for Muratore was passage of his law to cap
county sales taxes when gasoline exceeds $3 per gallon. In a new term,
he wants to freeze county property taxes, streamline permit processes
for businesses, keep homeless sex offenders housed in Riverhead and
Westhampton, allow more red-light cameras for safety, expand sewer
service as part of rebuilding the Ronkonkoma hub, and beef up police
ranks but ask police unions to help solve the county budget crisis.
Muratore's also fighting to preserve 50 acres at the community college
in Selden.

His 35 years with the Suffolk Police Department give him street-level
credibility and a make him a good judge of reality. Newsday endorses
Muratore.



Editorial: Hahn in Suffolk 5th District

Suffolk County's 5th Legislative District is up for grabs because term
limits will end the tenure of the incumbent, Vivian Viloria-Fisher.

The Republican candidate is Anthony Moncayo, 57, a lawyer and retired
Army officer who's been a Suffolk resident for 53 years. The Democrat
is Kara Hahn, 40, a Port Jefferson native and aide to the
legislature's presiding officer, William Lindsay (D-Holbrook). Both
candidates live in East Setauket, but the similarities end there.

Moncayo isn't convinced the county should operate a nursing home, but
Hahn wants to keep the John J. Foley Skilled Nursing Facility open.
Moncayo opposes a Shinnecock casino; Hahn doesn't. Moncayo opposes
selling any part of the county's large tract in Yaphank. Hahn would
preserve only the environmentally sensitive portion.

Hahn is sensible, articulate and knows the issues. Her challenge will
be making the transition from aide to legislator. Newsday endorses
Hahn.



Editorial: Wilutis in Suffolk 6th District

Sarah Anker, 47, is a community activist and Mount Sinai resident who
won a special election in March to represent Suffolk's 6th District in
the county legislature. A Democrat, she's now running for re-election
in her heavily Republican district against attorney Karen M. Wilutis,
53, a Republican from Miller Place.

Anker's heart is in the right place. She emphasizes communication,
cares about health and environmental issues, and stresses the
importance of creating jobs. Unfortunately, she lacks focus and
inclines toward anodyne generalities on the issues.

Wilutis' intelligence and legal background make her the preferred
candidate. She has extensive experience as town attorney and as a
planning board member for the Town of Brookhaven. She's been an
assistant district attorney and a small claims arbitrator. She's also
done legislative work for state Sen. John J. Flanagan (R-East
Northport).

Newsday endorses Wilutis.



Editorial: Calarco in Suffolk 7th District

Many of the critical issues Suffolk County faces have burned hottest
in this legislative district. It's where four innocents were massacred
in a drugstore, riveting attention on the county's prescription drug
problem. It's where Ecuadorean Marcelo Lucero was murdered in a burst
of anti-immigrant violence. And it's where Patchogue Village has set
the standard for the sort of smart growth the county needs.

Come January it will be represented by a political novice. Democrat
Robert Calarco, 32, of Patchogue, and Republican John Giannott, 40, of
East Patchogue are vying for the job vacated by Jack Eddington, who
decided not to seek re-election.

The two don't differ on many things. Both support expanded use of
red-light cameras, for instance, a public-private partnership to run
the Foley nursing home, and housing homeless sex offenders in
mini-shelters scattered around the county. Each would bring an
inclusive perspective to the immigration debate. And they both want
the county to hire more police -- which is unrealistic, given the
economic climate and what police are paid.

The difference is Calarco -- who has a master's degree in public
administration and has been Eddington's chief of staff for six years
-- has a better grasp of the complexities of the issues and what it
takes to get things done. For instance, he has a proposal to create a
county traffic enforcement bureau to capture some of the revenue from
tickets that now goes to Albany. That could help fund programs such as
more community policing and returning specialized police units, such
as drug enforcement, to local precincts.

Giannott, who owns Porters on the Lane and Carla Marla's Ice Cream
Parlor in Bellport, understands, firsthand, the need for the county to
make life easier for business. He's pragmatic and passionate about
expediting health department and other permit processes for start-up
companies like the second ice cream store he lost because of the long
wait for permits.

But Calarco has the edge in political savvy and experience with the
range of issues affecting this diverse district. Newsday endorses
Calarco.



Editorial: Lindsay in Suffolk 8th District

Anthony Musumeci, 34, is the kind of young person who is needed in
public life. He grew up in Sayville, married his Hofstra University
sweetheart, and had a couple of kids. Living now in Bohemia, Musumeci
works in his family's business. He's curious about the world and frank
about what he hasn't learned yet. But Musumeci, a Republican, is
running for the 8th Legislative District seat against a formidable
incumbent, William Lindsay, 65, who's been elected the legislature's
presiding officer six times in a row.

It's no wonder. The Holbrook Democrat has long experience -- term
limits will make his next two years in office his last -- and his
low-key style has made him a welcome counterpoint to Steve Levy, the
brash county executive. He is blunt about the county's budget woes,
offering no pat solutions. He was an early advocate of cameras at
stoplights, which have saved lives and generated revenue. He sensibly
favors small, distributed shelters -- rather than the current trailers
in Riverhead and Westhampton -- for the county's homeless former sex
offenders. Newsday endorses Lindsay.



Suffolk 9th District: Candidate unopposed

Ricardo Montano, 61, of Brentwood, is seeking his fifth term. Once
again, the Democrat from Central Islip is unopposed.



Editorial: Cilmi in Suffolk 10th District

Jim Heath, a 63-year-old Democrat from Ronkonkoma, works for the
Suffolk County Veterans Services Agency and is passionate about the
needs of those who serve the nation. He is convinced the county needs
to take care of its most challenged citizens, and support its police
officers. Heath is also refreshingly honest in admitting there are
county issues he doesn't know much about, like how to deal with the
challenges of the Health Services Department and the Foley nursing
home. He's wise to be honest about his lack of knowledge, but
understanding these issues is important.

Incumbent Republican Thomas Cilmi, 47, of Bay Shore, is seeking his
second term. One of his priorities is getting some transparency into
the county budget process, so that the public knows what is happening
and can comment on the spending plan before it is finalized. He also
wants the Health Services Department's permit processes streamlined,
the nursing home privatized and more cops on the streets, and says the
county cannot raise taxes right now. Cilmi is still learning the
ropes, but he's also spearheading some important issues. Newsday
endorses Cilmi.



Editorial: Barraga in Suffolk 11th Dist.

Republican Thomas Barraga, 68, of West Islip, is seeking a fourth term
in the county legislature -- after leaving behind his Assembly seat.
In his previous three legislature races, he won with about 62 percent
of the vote each time. His Democratic opponent, Frank Dolan, 58, also
of West Islip, declined to appear for an endorsement interview.

Barraga is a conservative with an independent streak and a commonsense
grasp of budget issues. He focuses much more heavily on shaping
budgets and on constituent service than on passing legislation. And
he's passionate about the need for big projects like the replacement
of the Tappan Zee Bridge and a new bridge or tunnel from Long Island
to Westchester, to bring jobs to the region.

Unlike many of his colleagues, Barraga says the county does not need
more police. And he feels Suffolk should work hard to answer the
issues raised by a Department of Justice investigation of its handling
of hate crimes.

Overall, he lends a useful, experienced voice of reason to the
legislature. Newsday endorses Barraga.



Editorial: Kennedy in Suffolk 12th District

Republican incumbent John Kennedy, 55, of Nesconset, came to the
legislature in a special election in 2004 and established himself as a
fiscal conservative with a soft spot for the environment. His
Democratic opponent, Martin Aponte, 50, lives in Hauppauge, where he's
a Democratic zone leader. Aponte chose not to interview for Newsday's
endorsement.

Kennedy, an attorney, became minority leader this year, and he has a
clear-eyed view of the county's problems. He considers the county
executive's 2012 budget the worst he's seen. While he says he's never
supported a general-fund tax increase, he can't rule out the
possibility. Some of the current financial gimmicks -- selling the
Foley nursing home to private interests, for example -- not only won't
work, they cut into what he sees as county government's core
responsibility for the health, safety and well-being of its citizens.
Kennedy favors expanding the county's red-light camera program, though
he wants the vendor contract reopened. He's the kind of pragmatic,
independent thinker Suffolk needs. Newsday endorses Kennedy.



Suffolk 13th District: Candidate unopposed

Lynn Nowick, 64, a Republican from St. James, is seeking her sixth
term. She is unopposed for re-election.



Editorial: Horsley in Suffolk 14th District

Suffolk County's 14th Legislative District, on the South Shore, is
represented by Babylon Village resident Wayne Horsley, 60, a Democrat
with a strong background in public finance and long experience in
state and local government.

His challenger is Republican Edward Blankenhorn, 70, a retired
Northrop Grumman engineer who specialized in cost analysis. A
Lindenhurst resident, the civic-minded Blankenhorn has been active on
school boards and in his church.

The candidates do not differ much on the issues. Both like the
red-light cameras that save lives and produce income for the county.
Both are unfortunately content with the current system of housing
homeless sex offenders in trailers in Riverhead and Westhampton. Both
want more sewers and both want the county to continue to operate the
John J. Foley Skilled Nursing Facility.

Blankenhorn is a thoughtful guy with skills that could be useful in
public life. But Horsley is a particularly intelligent and articulate
legislator with a sure grasp of the issues.

Newsday endorses Horsley.



Suffolk 15th District: Candidate unopposed

DuWayne Gregory, 42, of Amityville, won the seat in 2008 in a special
election, and then won a full term in 2009. This time, the Democratic
incumbent has no opponent.



Editorial: Poulos in Suffolk 16th District

Both Legis. Steve Stern, 43, (D-Dix Hills), and his Republican
opponent, Deborah Poulos, 57, also of Dix Hills, agree: Neither wants
to be a career politician. But Stern is seeking his fourth term.

He is proud of creating a "silver alert" program for the cognitively
impaired elderly who wander off and go missing. Overall, he has been
steady, but not distinguished.

Poulos, a divorce lawyer, thinks her ability to get feuding couples to
negotiate is a skill that will help in the legislature. She may be
right. This page has endorsed Stern in the past, but Poulos offers a
sensible, fresh approach that's worth trying. Newsday endorses Poulos.



Editorial: Garetano in Suffolk 17th Dist.

This race pits polished three-term Democratic incumbent Louis D'Amaro,
50, a lawyer from North Babylon, against pet-show promoter and former
South Huntington school board member Dennis Garetano, 59, a Huntington
Station Republican who lost to D'Amaro in 2005.

Both want to bring sewers to homes in Deer Park and North Babylon, and
restore 2012 funds for the Dolan medical clinic. But the contest has
been overshadowed by gangs and crime in Huntington Station, which led
to the closure of a middle school. D'Amaro says he increased police
presence. Garetano wants to go further, advocating an anti-gang unit
and the restoration of a police substation.

D'Amaro faults Garetano for fights and State Liquor Authority
violations at a West Hills bar he ran until the mid-2000s, and for
spotty attendance in his last year on the South Huntington school
board, after excellent attendance in six prior years.

The incumbent was stripped of a key committee chairmanship this year
after a failed coup to take over as presiding officer. His vote
against hiring a special counsel for the legislature's 2010 inquiry
into the county ethics commission was disappointing. That hiring
removed D'Amaro's wife, county attorney Christine Malafi, from the
case. D'Amaro says he did not recuse himself because the county ethics
board advised that generally no conflict exists for him when Malafi
gives legal advice to legislators. But in this matter, good judgment
required recusal.

A fresh start is needed. Garetano promises to bring an intense focus
to a troubled area of Huntington. Newsday endorses Garetano.



Editorial: Spencer in Suffolk's 18th Dist.

The race to fill the seat of term-limited Jon Cooper features two
strong contenders: Republican Elizabeth Black, 58, of Huntington
village, a retired secondary English teacher who's on the Huntington
School District board of trustees, and Democrat William Spencer, 44,
of Centerport, an otolaryngologist who has served as chairman of the
Town of Huntington Housing Authority's board.

Black's campaign is emphasizing job creation, but her experience with
the Jack Abrams School, which she voted to close, is one of the
reasons she's running for this office. She'd love to see students back
at the school some day, but says the area hasn't changed enough yet.
She thinks more cops on the street are essential to getting crime
under control and favors a new police class.

Spencer takes a more holistic view of crime, pointing to cultural
factors that lead to gang activity. He suggests that businesses with
county contracts offer internship programs to local youth. It's
typical of his expansive view of many of the county's challenges. He
has creative ideas -- from using rainy-day funds to pay off maturing
debt, thus raising the county's bond rating, to working with local
colleges to create a green degree, so alternative-energy companies
will have a talent pool here.

Black has great credentials and passion, but she didn't display the
breadth we see in her opponent. Spencer would enter the legislature
with an array of proposals that don't feel like they're out of the
same-old, same-old playbook. Newsday endorses Spencer.

More:
http://www.newsday.com/opinion/editorial-endorsements-for-suffolk-lawmakers-1.3285126

Rock The Vote

http://www.rockthevote.org/


Please pass this message on, and bring friends, family, and co-workers
to the polls.

--
Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
Have a great day,
Tommy