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FRED GROSER Publisher

NEWS

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OPINION

Where there is no vision, the people perish.

DEBBY KRENEK Editorial Director, SVP/Digital Media DEBORAH HENLEY Editor RICHARD ROSEN Managing Editor

RITA CIOLLI Editor of the Editorial Pages ALLEEN BARBER Deputy Editor
OPINION

Election Day decisions will shape our future at national, state and community levels

Voters, time to step up


t seems that every activity of daily life in the post-Sandy era from eating meals and getting a shower to buying gas has required endless ingenuity, resourcefulness and patience. Now we need to list voting as one of the activities that may require some good old New York can-do. This is a civic duty that cannot be postponed until a less turbulent time. Please do it. Tomorrow, we have an opportunity to vote for president, a U.S. senator, members of Congress, the State Senate and Assembly, and judges. There are also special elections Tuesday for supervisors in Babylon and Brookhaven, and for the 12th District of the Nassau County Legislature. Nationally, this election is pivotal on a long list of issues: jobs, the economy, the future of the Supreme Court, the solvency of Medicare and Social Security, and national defense, to name a few. Theres also the matter of how public officials manage a crisis. This much is certain: If we pass up the opportunity to vote even for the offices way at the bottom of the ballot we lose our chance to pick the right person to respond in a storm. Its not yet totally clear how election workers on Long Island will handle the disruption from Sandy. Most of the voting places are in schools, which have been closed. In Suffolk, the plan is this: Even if a polling place has no power, as long as it has not been structurally damaged, it will be open. Only a few polling places will be closed, with voting moved elsewhere. Watch our news pages and newsday.com for details. In Nassau, the plan will also move some polling places to a couple of super sites, with voting for more than the usual number of election districts. If youre in doubt, the best bet is to go to your regular polling place and take directions to the new one. Both counties are also extending hours for voting in person at Mineola and Yaphank. Voting is going to be tougher. But look at it this way: People have been tweeting each other about where to get on line for gas or generators. We need to be just as vigilant and determined about voting in this critical election.

EDITORIAL ENDORSEMENT WRAP-UP

U.S. PRESIDENT
Mitt Romney
Republican
Mitt Romneys story is a tale ofsuccess:inbusiness,in rightingthe SaltLakeCity Olympicsandingoverning Massachusetts.Hehas earnedourendorsement becauseheisuniquely qualifiedtobalancethenations booksandhelp createjobs. Indoingso,however,hemust ensurethefederalgovernmentcontinuestocarefor all people.AssuperstormSandy shows,Washingtonhasan importantrolein allourlives. Romneyhassomeflaws,and wedont agreewith himon manysocialissues.Hehas wavered,andtheplanshehas putforwardtodealwith the nationsproblemshavelacked specifics. Butwearereadingthisasa willingnesstofightfor whathis constituentswant andan abilityto compromiseto getit, ratherthananarrowideology. NewsdayendorsesRomney.

U.S. SENATE
Kirsten Gillibrand
newsday.com NEWSDAY, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2012

Democrat
Kirsten Gillibrand has been aquickstudyinjustafew yearsintheU.S.Senate. Sheslearnedhowtoget thingsdone,forinstance passageofaidforsick9/11 firstrespondersandrepealof thedontask,donttell policyforthemilitary.Shes anenergeticadvocatefor women,andhergraspof nationalissuesisimpressive. Shesclearlyuptothejob. NewsdayendorsesGillibrand.

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EDITORIAL PAGE

OPINION

CONGRESS
1st District | Republican

Endorsements for the U.S. House of Representatives

Randy Altschuler

NY STATE SENATE
Kenneth P. LaValle
1st District | Republican
Head of Higher Ed Committee. Delivers for SUNY. Proudly wears red Stony Brook University cap. Focused on repowering and revenue from district power plant. Lives in Port Jefferson, 18-term incumbent.

Proven job creator and has 10-point plan. Wants to shrink government. Pledges to be constructive, not hyperpartisan. Lives in St. James, second-time challenger.

Peter King

2nd District | Republican


Tough-minded chairman of Committee on Homeland Security. Worked with Democrats to wincompensationfor9/11 firstresponders. Well-placedadvocateforNewYorksinterests. Lives in Seaford, 10-term incumbent.

John Flanagan

2nd District | Republican


A strong voice for education reform, and for funding Long Island schools. Willing to start the conversation about necessary but unpopular choices. Lives in East Northport, five-term incumbent.

Steve Israel

3rd District | Democrat


Rising House leader. Chairs Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Enjoys access to the Oval Office. Expertise in energy, veterans and military issues. Lives in Huntington, six-term incumbent.

Lee Zeldin

3rd District | Republican

Carolyn McCarthy

4th District | Democrat


Has never lost the common touch. Once and always a nurse. A dogged voice on health care, schools and gun control. Works to bridge the partisan divide. Lives in Mineola, eight-term incumbent.
newsday.com

Lawyer, Army Reserve officer. Focused on veterans, local fishing industry. Championed rollback of MTA tax. Wants to find inefficiency in Medicaid. Lives in Shirley, one-term incumbent.

Ricardo Montano

4th District | Democrat


Highlyindependent.Soughtnominationwithout partysblessing.WouldbeanudgeforbothpartiesinSenate.Heldfederalandcountycivilrights jobs.Infifth terminSuffolkCountyLegislature. Lives in Brentwood, challenger for open seat.

Gregory W. Meeks

5th District | Democrat


Long time Queens figure. District now includes Nassau. Already versed in the needs of his new area. Could be an NYC-LI bridge builder. Lives in St. Albans, 15-year incumbent.

NEWSDAY, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2012

BABYLON SUPERVISOR
Richard Schaffer Democrat
Back in his old post and excited about it. Knows the issues deeply. Strongly backs Wyandanch revitalization. Pushing for bus rapid transit on Route 110. Suffolk Democratic chairman. Steady and sure post-Sandy storm response. Running for the remaining year on Steve Bellones term. Lives in North Babylon.

Grace Meng

6th District | Democrat


Lawyer. Two-term assemblywoman. Daughter of Taiwanese immigrants. Has blazed a path toward the American dream. Lives in Flushing, challenger for an open seat.

ENDORSEMENTS
Carl Marcellino
5th District | Republican
Former science teacher, school administrator and Oyster Bay town clerk. Consistently attends public service functions. Tackling important government consolidation initiative. Lives in Syosset, 17-year incumbent.

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NY STATE ASSEMBLY
Fred W. Thiele Jr. Daniel Losquadro

1st District | Independence

Kemp Hannon

6th District | Republican


Experienced and respected. Albanys expert on healthcare,fightingto stopprescriptiondrugabuse. FocusedonprotectinglocalwellsfromtoxicGrummanplume.Unassumingandpatient. LivesinGardenCity,22-yearincumbent.

A leader of LI Assembly delegation. Pioneered East End land preservation. Fought Southampton campus shutdown. Lives in Sag Harbor, 17-year incumbent.

2nd District | Republican

Jack Martins

Hard worker. Intense local focus. Early gray. Eager to protect his districts 100 miles of coastline. Lives in Shoreham, one-term incumbent.

7th District | Republican


Former Mineola mayor. Thoughtful and serious. Chairs important Local Government Committee. Ready to take the lead in economic development for Belmont Park. Lives in Mineola, one-term incumbent.

Dean Murray

3rd District | Republican

On local issues from funding sewers to getting a new supermarket in the community, fights for the district. Lives in East Patchogue, three-year incumbent.

Charles Fuschillo

Steven Englebright

4th District | Democrat

8th District | Republican

Geologist.Thoughtfuland courtly.Holding out forhealth rulesonhydrofracking. Hasthe earofAssembly leadership. Lives in Setauket, 20-year incumbent.

Battling drunken drivers, law by law. Chair of Transportation Committee. Champion for Roosevelt schools. Lives in Merrick, seven-term incumbent.

Alfred C. Graf

5th District | Republican

Dean Skelos

Street credibility. Former NYC cop and upstate town supervisor. Fighting hard to cut electric rates. Lives in Patchogue, one-term incumbent.

9th District | Republican

Phil Ramos

6th District | Democrat

Senate GOP leadership role fits comfortably. Partner with Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, watches out for Long Island. Hometown at his core. Lives in Rockville Centre, 14-term incumbent.

A wily, dug-in veteran. Retired police detective. Trying to control gangs and graffiti in his district. Lives in Brentwood, five-term incumbent.

Andrew Garbarino

7th District | Republican

BROOKHAVEN SUPERVISOR
Edward Romaine Republican
Two tours in the county legislature, separated by 16yearsascountyclerk. Wouldbeamajority RepublicansupervisioronaGOP-runtownboard. Readytotacklelong-term budgetimbalance. Runningfor remainingyear onformerSupervisor MarkLeskos term.Formerhistoryteacher. LivesinCenterMoriches.

Next generation of GOP. Engaging and knowledgeable for first-time candidate. Long community ties. Energetic. Lives in Sayville, challenger for an open seat.

Michael Fitzpatrick

8th District | Republican

Investmentadviser.Staunchlyconservative.Seeks401(k)stylepublicpensions.OftenalonevoiceagainstAlbany politicalculture.Lives in St. James, five-term incumbent.

9th District | No endorsement by Newsday


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EDITORIAL PAGE ENDORSEMENTS

OPINION

NY STATE ASSEMBLY
Districts 10-22

CONTINUED

Chad A. Lupinacci

10th District | Republican

Thomas McKevitt

17th District | Republican

Deep local roots. Bleeds Hofstra blue and gold (BA, MBA, JD).Threeterms,SouthHuntingtonschoolboard. LivesinHuntington Station,challenger foropenseat.

Alwaysasmile.Commissionshouldconsolidateschoolsto cutcosts.Changeforeclosurerulestokeeppeopleinhomes. Lawyer.LivesinEastMeadow,seven-yearincumbent.

Robert Sweeney

11th District | Democrat

Elton McCabe

18th District | Republican

An MVP for Long Island in the Assembly. Wily. Creative thinker. Steward of the environment. Lives in Lindenhurst, 24-year incumbent.

Hempstead Town engineering inspector. Calls gang violence domestic terrorism. Gulf War veteran. Local civil rights leader. Lives in Uniondale, first-time challenger.

Andrew Raia

12th District | Republican

Gary Port

19th District | Democrat

Detail-oriented and wonky. Family name tradition. Concerned with Medicaid spending and pollution. Lives in East Northport, five-term incumbent.

Wouldnt have let Islanders go. Retired Army Reserve Lt. Col. Knows compromise and mediation from family law practice. Lives in West Hempstead, first-time challenger.

Charles Lavine

13th District | Democrat

David Sussman

20th District | Republican

Brings criminal defense attorney expertise to Albany. Stopped county effort to gut Nassau Interim Finance Authority. Lives in Glen Cove, four-term incumbent.

Long-time school board member. Focusing on school aid. Urologist. Offers a needed change in this district. Lives in Lawrence, first-time challenger.

David McDonough

14th District | Republican

Brian Curran

21st District | Republican

Plain-spoken,tax-averse.RankingGOPmemberontransportation,workedonNICEbustakeover.Willingto takeon assessmentissue. Lives in Merrick, six-term incumbent.

Former mayor. Great sense of local issues. Principled, deliberate. Aggressive in fighting to lower taxes. Lives in Lynbrook, one-term incumbent.

Michael A. Montesano

15th Dist. | Republican

Michaelle Solages

22nd District | Democrat

Champions mandate relief. Working on school funding once Glenwood Landing power plant closes. Lawyer. Lives in Glen Head, three-year incumbent.

Young,energetic.Politicalfamily. AdvocatesforBelmont Parkdevelopment. VoiceforsuburbsinNYC-dominated Democraticmajority.LivesinElmont,challengerforopenseat.

Richard E. Stiek
newsday.com

16th District | Republican

Lawyer. Thoughtful and nuanced West Point grad. Understands energy and enviromental issues. Lives in Port Washington, first-time challenger.

NASSAU LEGISLATURE
Joanne Maglione

Special election to fill the seat held by the late Peter Schmitt
A printable version of these pages is available online in PDF form. newsday.com/opinion Walt Handelsmans cartoon and the Opinion and Letters to the Editor pages will return tomorrow.

NEWSDAY, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2012

NOW ONLINE

12th District | On Democratic line


An unexpected race in the 12th District could resultinasignificantchangeofcoursefor NassauCounty.Massapequa areavotersshould chooseJoanne Maglione,aformerdeputy countyattorney,to fillouttheremainingtermof thelatePeterSchmitt.Maglione,aregistered Republican,can breakthe partisandeadlock andbringNassaubackfromthefiscalcliff. LivesinMassapequa Park.

TO OUR READERS

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