Republican incumbent David McDonough is seeking election for the third time in the 19th Assembly District. In addition to politics, this Merrick native has created affiliations with several civic organizations.

McDonough says he enjoys working with other levels of government and would like to continue his work as an assemblyman in the future.

"We have the ability to get answers and that is very encouraging," McDonough said. "At least half of the job is local constituent service."

McDonough owns a business in Merrick, Graydon Associates, which assists colleges in collecting on student loans. He was elected to the State Assembly in a Special Election held February 2002 and re-elected in November of 2002.

McDonough attributes his affinity for politics to his affiliation with local civic groups. He is the immediate past president of the Nassau County Council of Chambers of Commerce, representing 50 chambers and over 6,000 small businesses. From 1994 to 1998, McDonough also served four terms as president of the Merrick Chamber of Commerce. As president, he says he was responsible for a 35 percent growth in membership and the initiation of several business community projects.

"I have promoted advocacy for small businesses in trying to help them speak to their elected officials regarding trying to get legislation for them," McDonough said. "Small businesses are the leading factor in job creations in the country."

He was also a founding member, and continuing board member, of the Bellmore-Merrick Community Wellness Council.

"This council is for parents and educators to address things like substance abuse and general community wellness. We just kicked off a big alcohol awareness program, which I just got the grant for," McDonough explained.

McDonough said he listens to constituents all throughout the 19th Assembly District. He recently met with the Levittown Property Owners Association and listened to their concerns about the Polaris Drive issue.

"I am opposed to that and have already set up a petition," McDonough said. "Levittown citizens are very good at maintaining their community and speaking out for it. It is one of the best communities on Long Island."

Adding to his list of affiliations, McDonough has been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Merrick for 20 years and currently serves as the divisional educational chairman. McDonough mentioned school budget funding as a recurrent issue. He said school budgets keep increasing and that 75 percent of budget money is going toward administrative costs and benefits.

"I want to make sure that school budgets are put up right the first time," McDonough said. "I am totally for education because I support all of the educational groups, but I still think that we have to do something to control the cost in the schools."

Referring to the recent school district audits on Long Island, McDonough said the suggestion of creating citizen committees was recently brought to his attention. He is going to start exploring the notion of getting these groups into school districts and asking to see their books.

"Not only are you going to find it and stop it, you are going to prevent it by them knowing you're going to come in and look at them," McDonough explained.

His current Standing Committee Assignments 2004 include Consumer Affairs and Protection, Transportation, Small Business and Aging. McDonough said that he co-sponsored an assisted living bill that was recently passed.

"The first thing is that there is to be full disclosure at assisted living facilities, so that the consumer who signs up for these places knows what will and will not be paid for in the original fees," McDonough explained. "Secondly, anybody in there who is providing any type of medication has to be licensed. And to provide complete regulation to make sure that these are qualified people providing care."

Internet luring is also an important issue for McDonough. While serving on the Task Force on Sex Crimes Against Children and Women, McDonough says he is working to strengthen Megan's Law.

"Through this task force I have introduced legislation to include civil confinement," McDonough said. "When a sexual predator comes out of jail, under the civil confinement law, they could then be confined to a secure mental institution. These people are going to strike again. They don't get cured."

McDonough and his wife, Carolyn, have lived in Merrick for over 35 years. They have three children and three grandchildren.

Although he is a newcomer to politics, Jay Breakstone is quite familiar with the election process. He has been a Bellmore School Board member for over nine years, including being elected twice as president.

An appellate lawyer with his own firm, Breakstone is running on the Democratic line in the 19th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Levittown, North Wantagh, Bellmore, South Freeport and Baldwin Harbor.

Breakstone said his experience in the education arena is what fueled his initial desire to run for assemblyman opposite incumbent, Republican David McDonough.

"I've been greatly concerned with education funding in the state of New York," Breakstone stated. "Education is the largest portion of our property taxes and we on Long Island, especially those in the 19th District, can no longer afford to fund education solely on property taxes anymore. We don't have a mature funding policy in the state. School boards don't know from one year to the next what their funding is going to be."

According to Breakstone, when the governor vetoed the budget last year and the state legislature overrode the veto, there were two bills. The first one was to override the veto and the second one was to actually fund the override.

Referring to aid for schools in the state budget, Breakstone suggested, "let's put the money back into the budget so that the portions that were originally cut by the governor and then restored by the legislature would be funded. That really made my determination quite clear that I would run and that I would run as a Democrat."

Breakstone said he anticipates and welcomes challenges in the areas he hopes to soon serve. He believes his character will guide him through any obstacles.

"If it wasn't a challenge, why would I do it," Breakstone quipped. "I like to think I'm a good speaker and am an intelligent, empathetic person. If I can't use all those tools, then why elect me."

Breakstone has extended his efforts in support of education by also serving as an officer of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association. Recent accomplishments include providing a seminar presented by State Comptroller Alan Hevesi.

"It dealt with fiduciary responsibilities of school board members for school funds," Breakstone explained. "I think that a mature education funding policy is a primary goal for me. Restoring more state aid to education is of critical importance to me."

Breakstone also stressed governmental reform as another important issue.

"I think everyone now recognizes what the Brennan Center for Justice report made concrete, that we have the absolute worst legislature in the entire United States," Breakstone stated. "Our legislature does not work because of procedural items that keep inflation away from legislators. We have a unique opportunity here. The entire legislature could be new in January and in January we will vote for a new set of rules. I want to be part of making up those new rules."

If voted into office, Breakstone said he has a clear set of governmental reform goals he is determined to tackle.

"I want there to be committee reports on every bill that hits the floor so that legislators can have adequate background information before voting on them," Breakstone said. "I want attendance at committee meetings to be required for legislators and that it be mandatory that they are on the floor of the assembly in order to vote."

He said he would also work on environmental issues facing the 19th Assembly. He said he is aggressive about the environment and has advocated for "a trusteeship for the bay's inlands on the south shore of Long Island."

"These are essential to us on Long Island and we take them for granted, Breakstone said. "We need to move forward ahead of the problems. You can't just react to environmental problems. You have to prevent them from occurring in the first place."

Breakstone said the concept of public debate is the reason why he hopes to make it to Albany. He was also pleased with the assembly's two-year term length.

"Albany is not a place to retire," Breakstone said. "Albany is a place to get something done and if you don't get it done in two years, people should vote you out. Democracy is not a spectator sport. It's not a spectator sport for legislators and it's not one for the people who vote them in." Breakstone has lived in Bellmore for over 15 years with his wife, Rhonda and their three children.

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