With the election of former Assemblywoman Kate Murray to the Hempstead Town Clerk position, the vacated seat in the 19th Assembly District will be filled by a Feb. 12 special election. Republican Dave McDonough and Democrat Steve November are running for the position, which includes the communities of Levittown, North Wantagh, Bellmore, Merrick, South Freeport, Baldwin Harbor and Island Park.

McDonough, a 35-year resident of Merrick, found that his decision to run for the vacant Assembly seat came as somewhat of a surprise.

"I've been active as a member of the Republican Party but I never dreamed I'd someday run for political office," he said.

McDonough said that he had the opportunity of working with Murray when she was in office as well as with Hempstead Town Councilman Gary Hudes, as Hudes was the president of the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce when McDonough, the current president, was vice president. He said that these relations, in addition to visiting with Levittown residents, have helped him get to know the area.

"When this opportunity came along, I thought about it and realized, I have really enjoyed what I have been doing [in Merrick] and thought I could do more for a wider area." McDonough added that he's received much satisfaction through his accomplishments in Merrick and hopes to bring such projects to other areas in the 19th Assembly District.

During his walks throughout the community, McDonough said that he noticed many residents are happy about some of the projects that Levittown has undertaken, such as the revitalization of Hempstead Turnpike. He noted, however, that there are certainly some concerns regarding the turnpike in terms of traffic.

Hoping to aid in the revitalization of the Levittown community, McDonough said that his past experiences in helping Merrick with its beautification process will assist him. McDonough agrees with many residents' concerns regarding traffic patterns on Hempstead Turnpike, particularly near the Wantagh Parkway.

"The turnpike is a major thoroughfare," he said. "I had a long conversation with the DOT about Sunrise Highway in Merrick because we have the same problem. If I'm successful and sent to Albany, I want to work with the DOT on Hempstead Turnpike." McDonough added that starting by the entrances and exits of the Meadowbrook Parkway, oftentimes drivers speed down the turnpike and the next time they are forced to slow down is by the Wantagh Parkway, right by the entrance to Levittown.

"It is a very dangerous thing to get on that parkway there. I'm aware that there have been some pedestrian accidents [in that area]. Hopefully something can be done working with the DOT to get a better traffic crossing system with extended lights.

"Something can be done about that, even if it's better signage; even if it's more community involvement and letting people know, this is a community, let's respect it as we go through there," he said. "Beautifying it will help tremendously."

In addition to traffic safety, McDonough noted that he had met with several senior citizens during a recent visit to Levittown and noted some other concerns.

"There's of course a tremendous concern with health insurance and health care," McDonough said. "I think the State of New York has probably the best health system of any state in the union but that doesn't mean it can't be improved."

He noted that there are many excellent programs to help seniors, such as the STAR and EPIC programs, but more still has to be done to help them. "That all has to increase because the seniors don't want to have to leave their [communities]," he said, noting a conversation he had with a Levittown resident who was worried that his increase in health care payments may eventually drive him out of his neighborhood because he worries he may not be able to afford living in the area.

McDonough added that he, if elected, looks forward to working in a very bipartisan manner. "I think that this is one of the unique times where an awful lot will be done because of that sense that we've got to work together. I don't believe that being in the minority cripples you at all because I strongly believe things get done through the relationships that are made and I'm very fortunate that I have some of those relationships.

"I learned so much about Levittown over the past several years because of Gary (Hudes); because I've listened to him," he said, adding that if elected, that's the first thing he's going to do for the residents. "I'm going to listen. That's the first thing I'm going to do because I think that everybody in any type public service - whether it's government or community associations - you have to listen to find out what is it that somebody's concerned about. Try not to tell them what they should be concerned about, listen first."

McDonough lives with his wife Carolyn in Merrick. The couple has three children.

November, a resident of Merrick for nearly nine years, is the Democratic candidate for the vacant 19th Assembly District seat. November ran for office once before in Nov. of 2000 against Kate Murray. During that election, November was proud to have walked away with 46 percent of the vote, particularly since he noted that some parts of the district are highly Republican.

Although not affecting the Levittown portion of the 19th District, November said he is highly involved in civic associations, particularly the Old Lindenmere Civic Association because of the No. 2 Diesel Power Plant in the community. In addition, November assisted the Central Merrick Homeowners Association in its fight against the Sprint cell tower proposed to be located in Merrick.

Being a lifelong resident of the south shore of Long Island, November said that environmental issues are very important to him.

"There are a number of environmental problems that need to be addressed," he said. "We need an assemblyperson who's willing to push to get the superfund reauthorized."

"We sit on top of an aquifer from which we get our water, and it is vulnerable and eventually you can get contaminants in there," he said.

"Nassau doesn't receive its fair share of DSS funds," he said. "We have to seek that, we need more funds for our social services.

"We need to protect the people of our community and I'm best equipped to do that," he said. "Especially since the Dems are in the majority in the assembly." He added that if elected he would fight to protect open space in the community.

"I also want to strengthen wetlands protection, since that's important to the southern tier of our district. Plus we have to reauthorize the spill fund," he said, noting that these problems are not just going to go away, they have to be remediated. November added that there are many environmental issues which have not been addressed in the last 35 years because there has been a Republican in office in the 19th district.

Noting that while environmental issues are incredibly important, November said the most important issues facing the community today are education and taxes. He said that these two issues need to be resolved first and then the environment would come next, since it is easier to remedy. In addition, if elected, November also hopes to work on getting more affordable housing into the district so that residents who have lived in the community all their lives can afford to stay there, resulting in their children being able to afford to live in the area.

"We need to find ways to affect the state's formulation of aid to the school districts in Nassau County," he said. "There are ways to affect the state formulation for aid to the poorer districts as well as the middle class districts." Noting that wealthier districts should not receive proportional aid, November said that middle class districts such as Levittown deserve to receive more state aid.

He added that school districts such as Levittown and North Wantagh, which he said are similar to Bellmore-Merrick in several ways, spend a decent amount of money on its students and that the state should reward such districts for their efforts by providing them with more aid.

"The Assembly is the people's legislative chamber in the state government," he said. "They set the goals for education and the environment."

November has twice served as district coordinator for Nassau Legislator David Denenberg and was an area coordinator for the campaign of Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi. November explained that he often appears for Denenberg and always backed him, as he did Suozzi during his election campaign.

During his campaign in 2000, November said that he walked the area extensively. "You can't know your district if you don't know the people," November explained, adding that he met many local residents and heard many of their concerns.

"All areas of the district are important," he said. "I walked in all areas so I know it like the back of my hand."

November is a trial attorney in Manhattan and former school teacher of science. He lives in Merrick with his wife Lesley and their two children, 5-year-old Benjamin and 3-year-old Rachel.