Incumbent Assemblyman David McDonough said his five-year record and background in community service are what makes him the best candidate for re-election to the 19th Assembly District seat.

McDonough, who is running along the Republican, Conservative and Independent Party lines, said, "I have established an effective and strong relationship with both my senate and assembly colleagues. I also have a strong record of working with constituents toward a solution of problems and concerns."

While McDonough mentioned toughening state sex crime laws, additional reforms regarding the Albany legislative process and working to continue to protect the environment as issues he would continue to tackle, additional relief for local property and school taxes are at the top of his priority list if re-elected.

He suggested, "increasing state school aid by changing the distribution formula and passing measures to help control school spending."

The co-sponsor of the proposed New York State School Taxpayers Protection Act, McDonough suggested "holding school administrators to the same standards as the private sector, with criminal penalties for willful violations, the creation of school district compensation committees to oversee all proposed contracts with teachers, administrators and superintendents; placement of such contracts on the school website at least one month before action by the school board and require school districts to post the annual budget statement on their websites and in public libraries and the school district office at least one month before the school budget vote, provide that anyone who collects a public pension and a public sector salary above the salary limitations, without a waiver, is guilty of larceny under the Penal Law and mandate the periodic audit of all federal and state grant program expenditures by school districts."

He was a founding member, and is a continuing board member, of the Bellmore-Merrick Community Wellness Council. Assemblyman McDonough has been a member and past president of the Kiwanis Club of Merrick.

McDonough currently owns Graydon Associates, Ltd. and is vice president of Graydon Design, Inc. Assemblyman McDonough is the ranking minority member on the Assembly Consumer Affairs and Protection Committee. He also serves on several other task forces and committees.

McDonough, a resident of Merrick for 40 years, and his wife, Carolyn, have three children and three grandchildren.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 7.

Running on the Democratic ticket, challenger Birnbaum listed five major goals that he would like to accomplish if elected to the 19th Assembly District seat.

"I would bring much more money into our district, conduct monthly meetings with our constituency, see to it that the memorandum of understanding for the preservation of the Meadowbrook Woodlands be implemented and, most importantly, devote most of my attention to solving the problem of our outrageous real estate taxes."

If elected, Birnbaum said he would tackle taxes first.

"I would obtain more money for our district and eliminate unfunded state and federal mandates that are imposed on the county," he added. "I would also defend the many assaults on our environment and free space."

When asked what challenges he anticipates if elected, Birnbaum said, "overcoming the entrenched power of the New York City legislators who must be compelled to address the needs of Nassau County and other over-taxed suburban counties."

To overcome these challenges Birnbaum said he would like to "form a suburban caucus of both Democrats and Republicans to form a coalition to force those in control of the Senate and the Assembly to address our problems as well as their own."

Birnbaum said his favorite aspect of the 19th Assembly District is that "the great amount of intellectual talent combined with the diversity of its population give us an enormous quantity of human resources."

He graduated with a degree in business and public administration from C.C.N.Y. and a Juris Doctor Degree from Brooklyn Law School. Currently he is a partner in law firm of Sandback, Birnbaum and Michelen of Mineola and Manhattan, which specializes in legal fiduciary for disabled veterans.

He has served as assistant district attorney in Bronx County - Homicide Bureau Trial Bureau, district attorney in Nassau County - Major Offense Bureau and a lecturer. Additionally, Birnbaum is involved with the Law Squad, where he said he "educates parents and high school students on alcohol, drug abuse and varied aspects of law in addition to the improvement of parent-teenage communication."

Birnbaum ran unsuccessfully for the 19th Assembly District seat in 1978. He and his wife have lived in Merrick for the past 26 years and have three children.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 7.