Jack Martins, a six-year mayor of Mineola, has thrown his hat into the ring and is running for Congress in the Fourth Congressional District opposing incumbent Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, who is also from Mineola.

In discussing his campaign, in particular the economic crisis, he said, "The economic situation is a tremendous mess. Representative McCarthy has been in Congress for 12 years. She is on the Finance Oversight Committee and it was her job, as part of that committee, and as a ranking member of those committees to keep an eye on the financial institutions whether it's Fanny Mae, Freddie Mac or AIG and to make sure that the kinds of abuses that we now have come to realize did not happen and she didn't.

"What do I think we need to do? Unfortunately, what we did. I don't think there was any issue with us having to bail out AIG for the sake of preserving the state of the entire insurance industry in the United States. But, I don't think the government should be involved in running business and I think they make sure that the taxpayers are reimbursed and then it needs to walk away and allow private industry to take hold again. But government needs to put regulations in place. These things don't happen by accident.

"Further, I think the government should conduct an investigation because there are many who made obscene amounts of money and just walked away. How was it possible that the government did not require a forfeiture of the CEOs salaries as part of the bailout?"

Martins also feels strongly that there should be term limits for public officials. He said, "I think people should go down to Washington to get things done and the idea of someone being in office indefinitely is wrong.

"Further, I am a strong believer that all elected officials must stay connected with their core constituents. If not, then who are they representing? Special interest groups or lobby groups that donate money to campaigns?"

Martins has been a very visible mayor and was at the forefront, along with the other mayors of the third corridor, in the fight against the Third Track. He said, "There are only two people who could absolutely stop the third track and that is the New York State governor and the other is our congresswoman. In fact, the project could not have been moved forward if it were not that for the fact that our congresswoman funded the original study. For now, the third track is on the back burner due to finances, but there is a feeling it could resurface."

Martins is married to his wife Paula and they have four daughters. He holds a law degree from St. John's University and a bachelor's degree from American University.

He is a member of the County Seat Kiwanis, Heart Council of Long Island and is a former zone chairman of the Lions District 20-K2 and is a member of Long Island Portuguese Lions Club and the former president of the New York State Portuguese Civic Association.

He is also a member of the Finance Policy Committee of the New York State Conference of Mayors Legislative Committee, member of New York Conference of Mayors Executive Committee and a member of the Nassau County Village Officials Association.

Martins is running with the support of both the Republicans and Conservatives.