In 2007 Craig Johnson won a special election making him the first Democratic senator of the 7th Senate District in a century. The seat had been vacated by Republican Senator Michael Balboni, who resigned to become Governor Spitzer's choice to head New York's homeland security.

Prior to being elected to the Senate, Johnson served four terms in the Nassau County Legislature where as chairman of the Finance Committee, he oversaw a $2.2 billion budget and was part of the team that brought Nassau's finances back from the brink of bankruptcy. __

During his first term in office, Johnson introduced legislation to protect property tax reductions given to volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers; voted for a strong civil confinement law that protects children from dangerous sexual predators; and supported a measure to fix New York's broken Workers' Compensation System. _Johnson demonstrated his independence by breaking ranks with his party to ensure that Long Island's schools received additional funding, and recently voted to cut $1 billion in spending over the next two years in order to shore up New York's finances. __He also was the first lawmaker in the New York to push for state pension funds to be divested from companies that conduct business with the Iranian government. The state comptroller has since adopted this socially responsible divestment strategy that will ensure that none of New York's money will go toward funding this extremist regime. __Senator Johnson has also been an advocate for Main Line communities and joined many residents in their opposition to the MTA/ LIRR's controversial Third Track expansion project.

In less than two years on the job, Johnson comments, "I have fought hard for legislation that will empower our communities, provide real tax relief, and roll back many of the unfunded mandates on schools and local governments that drive up spending and property taxes."

Johnson said his top priorities "have been and continue to be providing real tax relief to our overburdened homeowners, fighting for Long Island's fair share of school aid and working to get New York State's economy back on track. This year I introduced the Tax Relief Triple Play, a comprehensive plan that will help homeowners manage during these difficult financial times." Johnson's Tax Relief Triple Play seeks to control spending by placing a fair cap on property tax increases, by providing increased tax relief while protecting Basic and Enhanced Senior STAR, and rolling back and eliminating unfunded mandates on schools and local governments that increase taxes.

Johnson claimed his opponent has circulated a great deal of damaging literature about him that is untrue and he set the record straight on several issues.

Johnson said his opponent accused him of sponsoring legislation to eliminate STAR rebate checks when, in fact, he intends to link rebate checks to a STAR Circuit Breaker that will tie a person's rebate to their exact income, and their exact property tax bill.

His opponent also claimed he is in favor of the reinstitution of the commuter tax, when in fact he is a vocal opponent of the commuter tax and issued a statement in 2007 that he was "vehemently opposed" to it.

That he supported a plan to send Long Island school aid to New York City Johnson said has no factual basis at all.

To Donno's contention that Johnson is somehow involved in the school double dipping scandal, Johnson points to reports by Newsday and other media organizations that called these claims both 'false' and said that his involvement in these events was 'nil.'

Senator Johnson, whose district includes the Belmont Park Race Track, also serves on the Racing, Wagering and Gaming Committee, as well as the Insurance, Consumer Protection, and Agriculture committees.

Johnson is a bankruptcy attorney and of Counsel at Jaspan Schlesinger Hoffman LLP in Garden City. Prior to his association with Jaspan Schlesinger, he was an associate at Reisman Peirez & Reisman, LLP and at the law firm of Wilkie Farr & Gallagher prior to that.

Johnson was raised in Port Washington and attended public schools there. He earned his BA, magna cum laude, from Amherst College and received his Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from St. John's University School of Law. He lives in Port Washington with his wife, Liz, also an attorney, and sons Benjamin and Samuel. They are congregants of the Port Washington Jewish Center.

He is also the son of Barbara Johnson, who passed away in March of 2000. She was a well-known Democrat who served on the North Hempstead Town Board from 1991 to 1995 and was a Nassau County legislator until her death. Craig Johnson ran for her seat and won handily.

The 7th Senate District encompasses the entire Town of North Hempstead. It also includes the communities of Elmont, New Hyde Park, Floral Park, South Floral Park, Stewart Manor, Bellerose Village, Bellerose Terrace, and parts of Franklin Square and Hicksville.

Barbara Donno, a longtime resident of Manhasset, is the Conservative, Independence and Republican Party's candidate for the 7th State Senate District. Republican rule in Albany is being challenged and the 7th Senate District in North Hempstead is a closely watched race. Much campaign literature has been mailed to homes promoting Donno's election to the Senate.

Barbara Donno was a teacher 28 years ago, from 1969 to 1980, in Easton, PA and Smithtown, NY. More recently Donno served on the Manhasset Board of Education, a volunteer position. Elected in 1995 she served two years as a member, three as vice-president, and four as president, from 2000-2004. "Being president of the Manhasset Board of Education required oversight of all aspects of the school system," Donno said, "including policy development, a multimillion dollar budget, construction projects, security issues, employment, and labor contracts."

Currently Donno is mayor of Plandome Manor, also a volunteer position, elected in March of 2007.

One factor she believes sets her apart from Senator Craig Johnson is her ability to be a full-time senator. It was the same, she said, when she served on the board of education attending many meetings that an otherwise employed board member would be unable to do. Now, as mayor of Plandome Manor, she said, the principle holds true as she attends Board of Zoning Appeals meetings, court proceedings and other events.

Donno believes another strength is her ability to see all sides of an issue and that being on the school board and being a teacher helped hone those skills. As mayor of Plandome Manor, Donno explained, she deals with government and has become angry with Washington and Albany. "There is a lack of representation of us. Elected officials practice power politics and are more worried about themselves," she said, includeing both parties in her criticism.

Supporting a message of increased state funding for education, lower property taxes, and access to affordable health care, Donno has been traveling the 7th District, visiting supermarkets, train stations and campaigning door to door. What she said she has learned is that residents are angry they are poorly represented in the halls of government.

Her involvement on the school board, as village mayor, and now her quest for state senator were all prompted, she said, by the same trigger. When she is not happy with something she determines to make it better, she said. Disappointed with aspects of her child's education she got involved to have a voice. She cited special education, small-class size and curriculum review as areas benefiting from her tenure on the school board. Donno is most proud of converting the district from a whole language reading program to a balanced literary approach.

Asked about the proposed school budget tax cap of 4 percent Donno said it is a step in the right direction, that she does not want anything to hurt education or the children, and believes unfunded mandate relief is also needed. For example, she noted Manhasset school buses drive around half-empty requiring full driver salaries and full tanks of diesel fuel. The school board attempted to get a waiver from the state and parents were willing to sign a waver saying their children, while entitled to bus service, would never use it, but the state provided no relief and buses still drive around half empty.

Many school districts, Donno said, receive funding from the state for their capital projects and infrastructure repair. Nassau County receives an average of 31 percent while Manhasset receives 10 percent. Statewide the average is 44.2 percent. Albany simply says "This is what you have to do" but they don't pay for it and in Manhasset, she noted, it adds about $1million to $3 million to the budget. The federal government, too, she added, saddles districts with unfunded mandates.

Donno commented she would like to keep the 7th district affordable. That would necessitate tax relief so young people are not priced out and seniors could afford to stay. Having Senator Skelos from Long Island has to help, Donno noted, and added there are now nine senators from Long Island. She believes she can be most effective with educational issues and noted they filter down to property tax and health care issues. She said she will listen and learn from her constituents what is needed, just as she did on the school board and does as village mayor.

Her background includes a Master of Arts degree in Education from Hofstra University, Uniondale, NY and a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA. She serves on the board of the Long Island Alzheimer's Foundation, and was a past president of the Plandome Mills Property Owners Association. In 2004, Donno was inducted into the North Hempstead Women's Roll of Honor.

She is also a volunteer for a number of local service organizations including the Mentoring Partnership of Long Island, Great Neck/Manhasset Child Care Partnership, Manhasset Youth Council, and Junior League of Long Island.

Donno has two children, Jacqueline, a teacher, and Matthew, a comptroller. Her husband Robbie is chairman and founder of Gift of Life International, an organization that has recently sponsored its 10,000th child for life-saving heart surgery. During the 1980s Donno accompanied her husband on Gift of Life medical missions to Uganda and Russia.

Donno's philosophy is if angry, don't complain, do something about it.

The 7th Senate District encompasses the entire Town of North Hempstead. It also includes the communities of Elmont, New Hyde Park, Floral Park, South Floral Park, Stewart Manor, Bellerose Village, Bellerose Terrace, and parts of Franklin Square and Hicksville.