As has been his custom for the last several years, New York State Assemblyman Marc Herbst kicked off his campaign with a fund raiser which he used as an opportunity to honor community activists and volunteers from each of the communities he represents in the 14th A.D., which encompasses Hicksville, Island Trees, Seaford, Wantagh, and parts of Bethpage, Jericho, Levittown, North Wantagh, and Plainview.

Herbst, who took office in 1994, noted that since his first election bid, the turnout for his campaign fund raiser has increased dramatically. This year it was standing room only at the Aug. 31 event, with an overflow of supporters standing outside of H.R Singleton's as he spoke about his time as a public official and honored those who have helped him along the way.

"Each and every one of you has had a major impact on me and keeps me focused on what this job is all about," said Herbst. "It's about helping people and doing the right thing and I've always tried to emphasize and remember where I came from and what the responsibility of a public official is and that is to help people and do the right thing and you don't do it alone."

Herbst explained that his job isn't just about going up to Albany to represent his constituents. He noted that he would be able to accomplish very little without the support of the people at home, "the people who do the quiet work day in and day out, making this a better place." He said that it is for this reason that he can't take credit for all that he has accomplished and this event honoring community leaders is his way of thanking all those who do so much for their communities.

The first award presented by Herbst was the Long Island Leadership Award, which was presented to an organization rather than an individual. He selected the Long Island Federation of Labor- AFL-CIO as this year's recipient of the award. According to Herbst this organization represents the working men and women of Long Island in various trades and construction fields. "If you look at Long Island as opposed to any other region, we have the finest roads, the finest infrastructure, the finest supermarkets, the finest everything, because the construction is done right," said Herbst. He noted that this labor organization is fighting not just for better wages, but fights for their retirees, for worker safety, and for apprenticeship and training programs. It was in recognition of what they do to help people in their field that Herbst selected the Long Island Federation of Labor as the recipient of the Long Island Leadership Award.

Among the individuals receiving the Community Leadership Awards was Paul Masi, a resident of Bethpage for the last 22 years and a veteran of Vietnam War. Masi has been a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America- N.C. Chapter for 13 years and in April was elected president of that organization. He was awarded both the Conspicuous Service Cross and Conspicuous Service Star.

Herbst, in introducing Masi, commented on the importance of the veterans in the community, and noted that Long Island has the greatest concentration of veterans of anyplace in the nation. "If we don't pay attention to them we are doing ourselves a disservice and we should pay attention because they've done so much for us," said Herbst. Of Masi, he said, "He has never forgotten and doesn't want anyone else to forget or stop working for the MIAs and POWs that were left behind." According to Herbst, Masi has worked continuously to people never forget those who served and who deserve honor and recognition. Masi went to Herbst and told him that he found it disturbing that in Bethpage State Park the MIA-POW flag was not being flown. "The least we can do is raise the flag in their honor and bring public awareness and not let them fall by the wayside," said Herbst. Masi asked for legislation which would mandate that the state fly the MIA-POW flag and Herbst introduced the bill, which, when it was passed, became the Paul Masi Bill. Herbst recognized Masi for all that he has done for the veteran population.

In thanking Herbst for the honor, Masi noted that it is not just him, but so many others who have served and deserve recognition. He remarked upon all those who served in Vietnam and then died after returning, at a young age from various illnesses such as Agent Orange Cancer. "There have been far too many when you're not even 50 years old," said Masi. "It's a motivation for me and others in my organization to do the right thing." Masi noted that Sept. 15 is National POW-MIA Recognition Day and presented Herbst a poster commemorating the date from the National Department of Defense, as a thank you for all that the assemblyman has done for people in the community, especially the veterans.

The last award Herbst presented was the Friends of Marc Herbst 2000 Friendship Award. Bethpage resident George Yochmann, a GOP leader in Bethpage for the last 20 years and World War II veteran, was the recipient of this award. Herbst explained that this award is a political award rather than a civic award. ""his is someone who is devoted to the party and devoted to bringing up candidates,""said Herbst of Yochmann. Herbst described Yochmann as a true leader and a true friend who always promoted honesty and straightforwardness.

Following the presentation, Yochmann commented that maybe it was Herbst who should be receiving the award for all the good things he's done. "As our assemblyman in the Bethpage area you've really delivered for this area."

Herbst will be running for re-election on Nov. 7 on the Republican and Conservative Party lines. He is being challenged to a primary for the Independent Party nomination by Democrat Gary Burke.