Republican Incumbent Charles J. Fuschillo Jr. is seeking re-election to his seat in the 8th Senatorial District. The senator, who was first elected in March of 1998, is hoping that this election will award him a third term in office.

Fuschillo said that the past four and a half years have been rewarding. He noted that helping his constituents on a daily basis is one of the most important aspects of his position.

"My office receives more than a thousand letters a month and hundreds of phone calls on a weekly basis," he said. "We take every phone call and letter extremely seriously and we try to assist individuals to the best of our ability."

The senator cited the state takeover of the Roosevelt School District as one of his proudest accomplishments while in office, in addition to the closing of the Freeport Power Plant.

"[In regard to] the state takeover of Roosevelt Schools, I'm pleased that I was able to write that law and provide the children of the Roosevelt School District with the quality education that they deserve," Fuschillo said. "The closing of the Freeport Power Plant was a very serious environmental issue and the community as a whole ... truly came together. Those two issues were extremely important to residents in my district and I'm glad we were able to resolve them in a successful fashion."

Fuschillo noted that taxes are one of the primary concerns of New Yorkers today.

"With Nassau County proposing to raise the county taxes by almost 20 percent, it concerns me, that even though there are serious problems there, that they're trying to tax themselves into prosperity," he said.

Fuschillo added that local government needs to provide as much tax relief to residents as possible, which he said has been done at the state level.

"We're doing that through the STAR Program. I was just able to write the law that would allow senior citizens who are eligible for the advanced STAR Program to be exempt from any proposed increase in this year's county tax budget," he said. "That, combined with education, health care and the environment are major issues that are constantly in the forefront."

He further stated some of his priorities if re-elected.

"On a local level, [a priority is] to continue to provide the financial support to our schools and community-based organizations that mean so much to children, families and seniors," he said. "On a legislative level, in Albany, one of my priorities is budget reform; to correct our dysfunctional budgetary process."

The senator added that he hopes two bills that he sponsored will become law soon, one lowering the blood alcohol level for drivers from .10 to .08 and the other making New York State restaurants smoke-free.

"I'm hoping that when we go back to Albany, those two issues are taken up immediately," he said. Other recent laws the senator, who chairs the Senate Consumer Protection Committee, authored include the "Do Not Call Registry," which gives consumers the right to prevent unsolicited telemarketer calls to their homes; requiring children under 16 to wear seat belts when traveling in the back seat of a car; enhancing safety measures for day care centers; improving adoption laws and requiring the posting of fees at ATM machines.

With the recent redistricting, the 8th Senatorial District lost areas in Baldwin. Fuschillo noted that his district now goes further east and picked up some of the Village of Amityville and Lindenhurst.

"That's the best part about the job, that each area is diversified and there are many challenges and complex issues to be dealt with." he said.

Fuschillo said that he believes he is the best candidate for this position because he makes his constituents his top priority.

"I believe one of my strongest attributes is being accessible. I try to be in as many places as I possibly can [and] meet with as many constituents as I possibly can," he said, noting that his accessibility along with his experience makes him feel he's the best candidate to represent residents living within the district.

"I was the chief operating officer of a non-profit agency that dealt with family service programs; issues that affect families both economically and socially, prior to getting elected to the senate," he said. "That experience enabled me to have a different perspective and a greater insight to so many issues that we face in Albany."

The 8th Senatorial District encompasses several communities (or parts of) between Baldwin and Lindenhurst, including Merrick, Bellmore, Freeport, Wantagh, Seaford, Massapequa and Farmingdale. Fuschillo, a resident of Merrick, is running on the Republican, Conservative and Independent party lines. He and his wife Ellen have three children.

Kenneth R. Dash, Sr., the former Democratic leader of Freeport, is seeking election to the 8th Senatorial District. "I've aided in just about everyone else's election," said the 65-year-old Freeport resident, "and now it's my turn."

Dash is president of the administrative unit of the Civil Service Employee Association at the Nassau County Board of Elections, where he has worked since 1988, and is its public relations and affirmative action officer. He is also the treasurer for State Assemblywoman Earlene Hooper (18 AD). "When you speak of political stuff, I've done it all," he said.

With three grown children, Dash explained, "There is a difference when you are raising a family. You work hard to keep the job that you have. I've done everything I wanted to do. Now it's time to give back.'"

Dash's priorities center on health care and education. "I'm entering my golden years, so I am particularly interested in a good health care plan for all people." Dash said if he is elected he would look to see that prescription drugs were made available to everyone, those who can afford them as well as those who cannot.

"I'd like to see vision care improved so people don't have to go blind in order to get donated corneas or eyeglasses," he added.

In the realm of education, Dash said his goals included having the state's educational system monitored by the comptroller's office "... before the buildings fall into disrepair."

He said he would also like to see each and every educational institution purchase from the same vendor, which is certified and endorsed by the state.

"I think education will improve if money targeted for specific areas of education is spent on those areas. That kind of focus would also help to lower taxes."

Although Republican registrants in the district outnumber Democrats 81,019 to 63,302, Dash remains confident that his voice will be heard.

"This is the time when more people have to take an interest in their community and take back what should be the government of the people for the people, and by the people. I am one of those people who desire simply to be your servant. I don't want to do anything else but give back."

Dash is a lifelong civil and human rights activist. He is a former member of the Martin Luther King Commission, having been appointed by Governor Mario Cuomo, and has interned at the New York State Division of Human Rights.

Dash has served in many capacities with the NAACP and is also a Life Member. He is currently a member of the Freeport Human Relations Commission, American Arbitration Association, Veterans of the Vietnam War Inc., and an active member of the Freeport Kiwanis Club.

Born in 1936, the ninth child of Gertrude and Nathaniel Dash, he was raised in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn and graduated from Franklin K. Lane High School in 1954. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the Air Force and served until 1959. He married Lenore Kalif in 1956 and had three children. He moved his family to Nassau County in 1962.

After his service in the Air Force, he returned to work with the Equitable Life Assurance Company until 1988. He then started working with the Nassau County Board of Elections.

The 8th Senatorial District encompasses several communities (or parts of) between Baldwin and Lindenhurst, including Merrick, Bellmore, Freeport, Wantagh, Seaford, Massapequa and Farmingdale. Dash is running on the Democratic and Liberal party lines.