Farmingdale's Anthony Macagnone, a father of two and carpenter who is known in the community for his volunteer work as a soccer coach, is making a run for the State Senate on the Democratic Party line.

The 6th District candidate is challenging incumbent Republican Kemp Hannon of Garden City, who has been in office in the Republican stronghold since 1989. Also running, on the Right to Life and Liberal lines respectively, are Paul F. Callahan of Garden City and Edna Craig of Hempstead. Election day is Nov. 3.

A carpenter for the past 17 years and member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Macagnone is a strong supporter of labor's cause and sees "getting back the American dream" as a top priority. He has not spent any money on his campaign, choosing rather to meet with community organizations and churches to get his message out. Although he said he was offered financial support from his union, he declined the offer, asking his fellow members rather to spread the word about his candidacy. During a recent interview at Howitt School's soccer field in Farmingdale, he noted that he is running because he believes that more "regular people" should seek office.

"I think that more regular people should get involved in politics," he said. "Right now, you have career politicians in there. A lot of them are doing a fine job, but I think it was originally designed to have farmers, lawyers, doctors, bankers, carpenters, everybody involved. So that it would be kind of like a jury - it would be the peers making the decision."

The biggest issues facing New York, he noted, include the loss of young people to other states due to the cost of living, as well as low-paid work, health care and auto insurance rates.

Beginning a discussion of these issues, he said, "We're losing a lot of good, young people. They're getting educated and they're leaving Long Island. My brother left to go to Philadelphia because he couldn't afford the taxes, and he didn't want to deal with the commute. The traffic on Long Island is terrible. We've got to keep the young people here; we've got to keep the middle class strong."

A problem, for example, in the Farmingdale area, he noted, is the prevalence of low-paid, immigrant laborers, who, he believes, don't pay taxes but use government services. Noting that they work on a per diem, cash basis, he said, "They don't pay any taxes, but I'm sure their children use the schools. I'm sure they're going to use the hospitals, use the medicaid facilities because they don't have any medical coverage, and they're going to tax our system. Somehow, we have to figure out a way to tax the people they work for," he said, noting that this is unfair to both the working poor people and the middle class. "They're here, they're working, they're getting paid $50, $60 a day cash, which is tough living on Long Island today."

Healthcare Management Organization (HMO) reform, he said, is another key issue of concern. "People should be put before companies," he said, noting that doctors, rather than insurance companies, should decide issues of patient care.

On auto insurance, he commented, "How come we pay the second highest in the nation? In six years, from 1990 to 1996, the insurance rate in New York went up 36 percent, whereas the cost of the claims only went up 12 percent. That's according to the State Assembly Insurance Committee. There's something wrong there. Companies again, making major profits. I don't have a problem with a company making a profit, but not on the backs of the people," he said. Noting that the state government should do more to tackle this issue, he added, "We have some good people representing us in the state. I'm sure they could come around and help us out a little more with that."

Macagnone not only is raising a family in Farmingdale, he grew up in the community, graduating from Farmingdale High School in 1976. This as well as his work as a union carpenter, a job he enjoys thoroughly, has influenced him to see the American Dream as a priority. "It used to be, when I was growing up, people knew that if they worked hard, and saved some money, they would have decent health benefits, they would have a retirement with dignity, and they would be able to send their kids to college," he reflected. "A lot of people today - they don't have good benefits, they don't have a pension or anything, and they don't know how to send their kids to college. I think it's important that we get back to that perspective again. Those are some of the big issues we should get back to - trying to regain the American Dream. Too many people that I know are working harder and harder and still staying behind. You hear about Wall Street booming, but it's not coming down to the regular people."

For this reason, he noted, he will continue to be a strong supporter of labor unions. "A fair living wage, good health benefits, and a retirement with dignity - that's what labor unions stand for. And if that's a problem, or if that's un-American, then I have a problem with people who perceive that."

A college graduate, Macagnone and his wife of 11 years, Kathleen, have two daughters, Kelly and Shea, who attend the Farmingdale campus of La Salle Regional School. "I love bringing them up in Farmingdale. I think it's a great community. It's a great place to live," he said.