The upcoming congressional election in the Main Line communities will be a referendum on the LIRR Third Track. Jack Martins has taken a strong stand fighting for his constituents against the LIRR Third Track megaproject. Jack Martins is a man of action, rather than inaction. Jack Martins has worked hard with the other Main Line communities. He and thousands of his constituents have sent a clear message to our current congressional representative. We want our representative in Washington to take a stand with us against the MTA LIRR Third Track megaproject.

Jack Martins brings the kind of change we need in Washington. The record is clear. Jack Martins is against federal funding of the MTA LIRR Third Track Project. He will make it his top priority to stop the federal gravy train from earmarking funding specifically for the Third Track. If our only "one vote among many" in Congress cannot or will not stop the wasteful practice of earmarking federal funding for the unwanted and unneeded multi-billion dollar Third Track boondoggle in our own district, whose interests are being protected in Washington? Long Islanders can no longer afford the luxury of allowing our congressional representative to take a "wait and see" attitude while Long Island communities remain threatened by the government's use of eminent domain and disruption of our communities to build a multi-billion dollar passing lane.

Our federal government is intimately involved in approving and funding the Third Track. The MTA LIRR delayed its submission of their DEIS to the Federal Transit Administration for nearly two years after the close of the scoping hearings in 2005. Jack Martins proudly testified at those June 2005 public hearings and, despite blistering criticism from well-funded special interest groups and lobbyists, continues to take a stand with his constituents.

The time has come for the out-of-touch incumbent to step aside for an elected representative who has already shown he is willing to take a stand with his constituents against the Third Track. It is time for us to make a change in Washington.

Your vote for Jack Martins is your vote against the Third Track.

Thomas J. Tweedy

Floral Park village trustee