Assemblyman James Conte, the Republican incumbent to the 10th Assembly District, is seeking re-election to another term in office. Conte has served in the Assembly for over 14 years, having first been elected in March of 1988.

Conte said that having been on the education committee the full time he's been in the Assembly (of which he has been ranking member for the last five years and in April became the ranking Republican on the higher education committee), education is one of his primary concerns and one area in which he feels he has made many accomplishments.

"That's been a major portion of my work in the Assembly, not just the annual fight that we have for funding, to make sure that our Long Island schools are fairly funded, but I've also been dealing with school safety issues," he said, adding that he authored legislation that requires all school personnel to be fingerprinted.

"That's been one of my major pushes over the last number of years, along with the other school safety bills that we've put forth," he said. "I've also been on the forefront of trying to get safety stop devices on electronic gym door partitions." Conte noted that two state residents, one from Melville, were killed by gym door partitions and 10 years ago he put forth a law that required signage to be placed on the doors noting that they were dangerous. It was also mandated that the doors have spring-loaded locks.

"This year, we were able to pass legislation, which I was a co-sponsor on, that would mandate that all schools have automatic gym door partitions," Conte said, noting that they are similar to what residents have on garage doors.

Conte said that another bill he had been working on which became law this year was to make sure school districts were equipped with automated external defibrillators.

The assemblyman noted that another area in which he takes great concern is regarding health-related issues.

"I'm a member of the Assembly health committee but more importantly I'm a two-time kidney transplant recipient," he said. "I'm going to be the poster child or the living proof that transplantation works and I think if you ask any member of the legislature over the last 10 years if they've learned anything about organ donation and transplantation, my name's going to come up."

Conte said that legislation he authored is in the works and should soon become law, providing for an organ donor medal of honor for families who donate their family member's organs.

Conte said that the economy is a major issue on the forefront.

"What we need to do right now, because we are going to be facing a significant budget deficit that will trickle down to all levels of government, [is] do our part in the state to hold the line on spending and hold the line on increasing taxes," he said. "I think that's the number one thing that we're going to be consumed with over the next number of years. We've weathered economic and business cycles in the past. I think Long Island is feeling the pain of what happened after September 11 but we are better poised to move out of the post 9/11 recession than I think we've ever been. What we need to do on the state level is make sure that we truly prioritize which government services we need to fund and make sure that we control the spending levels on other ones."

Conte noted that one of the most important bills that he has been working on is Video Voyeurism. He said currently in New York state, not much can be done to a person if they are caught video-taping somebody without that person's knowledge. He cited an incident in which a Long Island woman, who was renting an apartment in somebody's house, was video-taped by her landlord without her knowledge. He hopes that the bill will become law soon, as it didn't pass this year.

The assemblyman, who has always represented the Suffolk County portion of East Farmingdale, is excited to be the new representative of those living within the Village of Farmingdale. He noted that the 10th Assembly District will now encompass 103,000 people who reside in the Town of Huntington, approximately 25,000 in Nassau County and another 5,000 in East Farmingdale in the Town of Babylon. The new communities which will be covered by the district are the Village of Farmingdale and a portion of South Farmingdale and Bethpage.

Although he has been a Suffolk County legislator for the past several years, Conte is not concerned about representing residents in Nassau County, especially not in Farmingdale.

He noted that representatives from the Farmingdale School District, through their lobbying efforts, have helped him become very familiar with the concerns of district residents.

"The Farmingdale School District, along with their PTA and the administrators, have come to my office both here in Huntington and up in Albany," he said. "I understand the concerns that are going on in the school district. The concerns the parents have and what's going on in their schools are basically the same whether it be the South Huntington or the Huntington School District, where my kids go."

Conte also noted that he met with the Farmingdale Village mayor and village trustees, in addition to meeting with a number of local Republican clubs and being contacted by representatives of St. Kilian Outreach.

"I think a lot of the issues are what middle class Long Islanders are looking at and over the next number of years we should be able to get much more acquainted," he said. "The concerns residents have are very similar or oftentimes the same. Even in the short time that I was at the [Columbus Day Festival], the people that I spoke to came up with real concerns. I can tell right away that it's the same type of issues, some quality of life, overcrowding in homes, the value of their real property taxes - these are relatively universal. Nothing that I'm not going through, a lot of my friends and family who live right here are going through."

Conte said that being in government for so many years has not only helped him understand the issues, but also helped him know which other local representatives to turn to in the event of a problem.

"The main thing is, having been in the Assembly for 15 years, not only have I worked with the legislators for the past several years, in terms of the access that I have to the governor and to the government and to the opinion leaders - I can use that to benefit the residents of Farmingdale and Bethpage, just as I would for the residents here in Huntington Station.

"In working for the last 15 years in trying to help not just the people in the 10th Assembly District but the people from throughout Long Island, I've been able to work with our senators, the assembly people on both sides of the aisle and with the governor and his administrative staff in trying to make changes that will benefit not only the presidents of Huntington Station and south Huntington but that will affect the people who live in Farmingdale and Bethpage and I think that's going to continue to be my mode of operation as we move forward. "

In addition to being the ranking minority member of the Assembly Higher Education Committee, Conte has previously served as the ranking minority member of the Assembly committees on education, governmental employees, ethics, small business and mental health. He is presently a member of the Assembly committee on economic development, job creation, commerce and industry and the committee on tourism, arts and sports development and has served as a member of the housing committee. In addition to running on the Republican party line, he is also running on the Conservative and Independence party lines. Conte is a resident of Huntington Station. He and his wife have three children.

Huntington resident Hubert Johnson is challenging incumbent James Conte for the 10th District seat in the New York State Assembly. Johnson is running on the Democratic party line.

Johnson said he has much to offer the residents of the 10th District as he is not a newcomer to government. His government experience includes being an aid to Congressman Downey, consumer advocate for the New York Attorney General's Office, ombudsman for the Department of State, aid to Speaker Sheldon Silver and head of inter-government relations for the Suffolk County executive.

Johnson, who was an auxiliary police officer in Queens for 10 years, ran for office once before in 2000 against John Flannigan.

"[When I] ran in 2000, I mustered 34 percent of the vote," Johnson said. "This year I decided to run again because I feel that the issues [which were brought up] in 2000 were not taken care of, such as health care, prescription costs and the environment. [These] were on the agenda in 2000 and two years later they're still on the agenda."

Johnson noted that he is fighting for STAR programs, including both the basic and enhanced programs.

"These programs are designed to keep money in the taxpayer's pocket," he said, "but unfortunately with the high taxation for schools and also county taxes, STAR is not really looked upon as a rival program because the property taxes are neck and neck with STAR. More money has to go into STAR, that's why I'm fighting to extend the STAR deductions by an additional 12 percent, which will give the seniors, as well as the basic homeowners, money in their pocket."

The candidate noted that his top priorities, if elected, would be taxes, the environment and health care.

"We need a true patient's bill of rights that will give the patients a choice, not customer service telling you who to go to," he said. "As long as you're paying for medical costs, you should have a right to go where you want to go for the best prognosis in ailments which you are suffering from."

In regard to the environment, Johnson said that the Superfund has not been funded, that it was only funded for operating expenses and salaries.

"That's destroying our environment," he said. "If we're going to leave our environment for generations to come, are we leaving them toxic waste sites or are we going to leave them a flourishing environment where they're going to flourish themselves? Also with the environment, the breast cancer map, which caused a lot of controversy, was false. I want to go to Albany to fight for a new effective breast cancer map to protect all families, today, tomorrow and years to come."

Johnson said that he would fine-tune many programs due to inflation increases.

"New York State is going to be in a $10 million deficit next year. Every program needs fine-tuning to go with the inflation rate we have today," he said. "I'm saying, put money into the programs. We're going through hard times next year. We must put reality where it's at. The programs are there - we must readjust these formulas so we can all get through these troubled times."

Johnson said that the minimum wage bill should also be passed. He noted that people get what they pay for, but although there is a background check for all those going into health care, the quality of personnel may not be at its highest. He noted that the same goes for those who work in day care or senior care centers.

"If the wage is down, they're going to opt to go into another profession. If you up the minimum wage, you'll get the best care, children in day care will get the best care and the families who are placing trust in these care facilities will be more relaxed," he said.

Johnson further noted that he is for typewritten prescriptions. He said that oftentimes a pharmacist cannot decipher what a doctor has written for a prescription and the only person who ends up suffering is the patient. He also said that he is calling for a three-year notification for HMOs, so families have plenty of time to find a new doctor.

"Doctors grow with the family, so the trust is with that doctor. I'm looking for three-year notification so that families can have time enough to find a new doctor or if they are able to afford the doctor they have now, they will be able to keep that doctor in their home," he said.

Johnson noted that the most important thing a legislator must do is go to Albany with an agenda, one which addresses the problems residents of the district are facing. He said that issues need to be prioritized and noted that his immediate and long-term goals include health care and the environment.

"The minimum wage bill should be [passed] right away, [at the] next budget. Environment should not be a long-term plan - let's make it a two-year plan. Let's focus upon highly toxic sites now and let's clean them up. Suffolk County is number four in New York State in toxic waste sites," he said.

"You must go to Albany with an agenda, an agenda that will satisfy the people," he said, adding that keeping the residents informed is very important. "People are tired of the nonsense of pure lip service. People want results, they want answers, they want change. When I walk the communities of the district, I tell people ... I cannot be here every day but I will make sure that I am accessible so that you can call me and I'll get back to you. I'll make sure that your needs are met."

In getting acquainted with the new areas encompassed by the 10th Assembly District, Johnson said he walked several areas of the district, including many sections in Farmingdale. He noted that in doing this, he was able to familiarize himself with many of the concerns facing local residents.

"I walked through [areas of Farmingdale] and I told [residents] that I'm here. You've got to bring the sense of prosperity back. People want a sense of peace, people want a sense of security and a good sense of ownership. This is what they need - we (as legislators) have to reassure them that I hear you, I'm going to take care of your problem - I'm not going to promise you something I can't deliver," he said. "They need a legislator who's going to be there to listen to them, who's going to be there to give them results, not just lip service. You have [to have] one person who's going to advocate the needs of the people - people come first. I think politics of yesteryear was about grass roots and sincerity behind the words. That's what is missing and that's what I'm trying to bring back to Albany and the district."

Johnson said that the most important goal of any elected official should be keeping in touch with residents of their district.

"You don't have to run hefty commercials or mailings - because if people know what you've done in your district, you have nothing to worry about," he said. "People come first. I'll make sure that liberty and justice is served for all. I don't walk away from issues that I feel are important. A new dawn has come - a new beginning - if they want change, they will vote for change and things will happen. Do not give up on the system ... it has to be fine-tuned."

He noted that his experience with government over the past several years, in addition to visiting with residents of the district, have given him the knowledge of what issues need to be addressed.

"An elected official must know when to say yes, when to say no, and how to compromise. You must go to Albany with an agenda from your constituents, even though you'll be affecting a lot of people statewide. You must know how to vote, know when to vote, when to abstain and why you're going to abstain and know how to reorganize your answer to make it better," he said. "I spent two years in Albany due to budgetary crises up there this past year and also through everyday business. You have to know how Albany works before you run - that's very essential. You have to go with an agenda and a lot of our officials do not go with an agenda. They have to be there, but they forget why they're there.

"I have the experience under my belt to know what's right and what's wrong. I'm going to do what is right for the people, knowing that I'm going to be pushed up against hard decisions. I think the best recourse is to have more of a public input on decision making. If it's a decision affecting their community, they must be included. I pledge that I will hold my regular community meetings for the residents so we can come together as one. I'm not going to Albany to be an 'I' or 'me,' I'm going to Albany to be a 'we.' We can do it, we will fight this fight together. It's not about name recognition, it's about you doing what you said you're going to do. They don't have to see you all the time, but hear what you're doing.

"I'm not going to promise something I can't deliver. I'm going in there with no nonsense. I know my stuff. I'm knowledgeable so far as what has to be done. I'm down to earth. I'll make sure I have the best staff in my office to handle the problems necessary.

"A new leadership is going to form Farmingdale and that's going to be me. I'll make sure the ills, the pains and the sorrows will be addressed. People want closure, people need closure. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to do it," he said.