Another Election Day looms and with it an opportunity to dig ourselves into an even deeper economic hole. These days, when area residents get together the question that inevitably surfaces is this - "How about these taxes!" Yet, what do we hear on the subject from either of the major party candidates? Nothing. They are, however, eloquent on other important issues - the environment, prescription drugs, gay rights, etc., but which, thanks to skyrocketing taxes, are rapidly distancing themselves from our list of "Things We Can Afford."

Only one candidate has the good sense to address this grave situation - Frank Russo, running on the Conservative line. Unlike politicians who "promise" tax relief, Mr. Russo, who has nothing to fear from unions and other behemoths, presents a plan! A workable plan! A change in the state law so that when a school budget is defeated, it's frozen with no second vote. He also favors vouchers for low-income parents at half the public school cost. According to Mr. Russo's plan, the Manhasset schools, for example, would receive roughly $10,000 for a student who wouldn't be there and the non-public school selected by the parents would receive an amount approximately twice its tuition!

Mr. Russo applies the same common sense to all the important issues. Naturally, he opposes partial birth abortion - that unspeakable medical procedure in which an infant is yanked almost completely from his mother's body so that his brain can be sucked out. Other items on Mr. Russo's platform include reasonable limits on medical malpractice lawsuit awards, reduction of state debt and discontinuing of health benefits for "domestic partners." In other words, if it makes sense, he's for it - if it doesn't, he isn't.

Electing a third-part candidate can be difficult, but sending Mr. DiNapoli back to Albany to increase our tax burden even further would be totally unaffordable.

Catherine N. Dillon