Stanley B. Bergman, a resident of Levittown for over 25 years, is making his first run for public office by seeking election to the 12th Assembly District. He has been an auditor for the Nassau County Comptroller's Office since 1994, and has served as president of his union's unit there since 1999. Bergman is running on the Democratic and Working Families party lines.

A product of the New York City public school system, with a masters degree in accounting from C.W. Post of Long Island University, Bergman has received endorsements from the Civil Service Employees Association and the United Auto Workers, Region 9A, because of his over 10 years as a union activist. He is also endorsed by the National Organization for Women in recognition of his consistent commitment and support for issues such as pay equity and reproductive freedom, and his stand against workplace discrimination and domestic violence.

Bergman said he decided to run for office because he felt there were certain issues that needed to be addressed that "... weren't being addressed by the current cast of characters."

Bergman said he sees the budget as the most important issue affecting New York today. He said he would support state tax reform that would raise the highest-earning income bracket from $85,000 to $200,000 and tax higher wage-earners more to help pay for education and other programs now borne by local municipalities.

"Over the past 10 years we have been giving tax breaks to the most wealthy," Bergman explained. "Anyone who makes over $85,000 a year, regardless how far over, he or she stills pays the same rate, where 10 years ago it used to be different. The state had plenty of money because everyone was paying his or her share. Now the more wealthy people aren't paying their fair share and the state has no money. It has to borrow or pass on the responsibility to the local municipalities."

Bergman also supports raising the hourly minimum wage from $5.15 to $6.75; requiring any employer receiving state aid or a state contract to pay their employees a living wage of $10 an hour with health benefits or $11.50 without benefits; increasing the maximum payout in workers' compensation benefits; and better prices for prescription drugs through negotiations by the state.

One of the local issues that Bergman calls his "crusade" is to encourage Long Islanders to rethink the Department of Transportation's $5 billion LITP2000 transportation plan, which he claims will turn roads like the Southern State into expressways.

"The plan, which calls for allowing commercial traffic on many roads where it has previously been restricted, would involve redoing the bridges, taking away some of the green space, and putting up noise abutment walls. The air pollution would greatly increase."

Bergman has pledged not to rest until the plan places greater emphasis on "much needed" public transit. This has earned Bergman an endorsement from the Long Island Progressive Coalition.

"I am strongly against the LITP2000 plan," Bergman said. "I've been talking to a lot of people on the street about it and everyone I talk to seems to agree with me that it's not the best idea for Long Island."

Bergman said his financial background, along with the fact that he is just a "regular working citizen," make him an ideal candidate for the position. "I know what the challenges are that working people have, being a working person myself. I know where the frustrations are and where the relief is needed. And my district is made up of working class communities."

The 12th Assembly District is comprised of the Massapequas, Plainedge, South Farmingdale, and Island Trees, as well as parts of Bethpage, Levittown, North Wantagh and Seaford.