It has been nine years since Democrat Carolyn McCarthy was elected to Congress to represent the residents in the 4th Congressional District following the ordeal she went through when her husband was murdered and her son was injured in the Long Island Rail Road massacre. While McCarthy remembers why she went to Congress - to fight for better gun control legislation - she has become involved in a multitude of issues including education and healthcare.

Still, McCarthy says she will continue to fight for gun safety legislation. She plans on continuing to push for the Assault Weapons Ban and introduced the No Fly, No Buy legislation, which prevents those on the No Fly list from purchasing firearms. If re-elected, McCarthy plans on introducing legislation, which will address school safety and be incorporated in the No Child Left Behind Act when it comes up for renewal next year.

In speaking about No Child Left Behind, McCarthy supported the legislation in 2001, but admits that it has flaws that need to be addressed. While she supports the goals of the legislation, she feels that its implementation has to be changed so as not to create a hardship on school districts. "Washington sent down an unfunded mandate. When we passed that bill, all of us were guaranteed that the monies would be there and yet it wasn't and hasn't been," she said, expressing her frustration that funding for schools has been cut.

McCarthy feels that education has been and will continue to be a major focus so that children will get the education they need to be competitive in a global economy.

In the field of healthcare, she is concerned that some of her constituents are falling into the "donut hole" for Medicare Part D, the gap in coverage Part D enrollees face when they purchase $2,250 worth of prescription drugs in a year. "I voted against the original bill because I didn't feel we needed that hole," she said, adding that she feels healthcare is in a crisis and every American should have some type of healthcare.

She is also concerned with Homeland Security and fighting for funding to make sure first responders have the resources they need to be prepared in the case of an emergency such as a hurricane or terrorist attack.

A major concern of McCarthy's is foreign policy and she feels the policies that have been in place aren't working. She feels the military people are doing an unbelievable job in Iraq, but the Iraqi people have to start standing up for their own country. "I can't say I have all the answers but I know the plans that are out there are not working. We have to change those plans," she said.

If re-elected, McCarthy hopes to be part of a Congress that focuses on helping the middle class. The focus in the first 100 days will be helping the middle class by readjusting the budget to fund education and the healthcare system. "The only ones I've seen making sacrifices are the middle income families and I think that's wrong," she said. "There are a lot of things that can be done to get this economy back going to help the middle income families."

McCarthy is running on the Democratic, Working Families and Independence Party lines.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 7. Voting will take place from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at your local polling place.

Republican Marty Blessinger finds himself in the unenviable task of having to take on Democrat incumbent Carolyn McCarthy in the Fourth Congressional District, but for Blessinger, he sees running for Congress as an opportunity to become more involved.

For 21 years, Blessinger served in the 3rd and 4th Precincts of the Nassau County Police Department as an officer and sergeant. "I feel very confidenct that I know the place better than any politician that's running for office," he said about the 4th Congressional District.

Now, the retired police officer feels he is ready for his next challenge, which is running for Congress. "I can easily just fade into the sunset, but if you don't participate, you have no right to complain," he said. "I think we should all participate. Whether you are for me or against me, get in it."

As a police officer, Blessinger developed people skills and says he likes dealing with people and hopes to represent them in Congress. "I still have a lot to give," he said. "I don't believe in lifetime office. I don't think that's fair. I think new blood should be brought in all the time. It's never meant to be a career. My career was as a police officer."

Blessinger feels his experience in emergency management having served in Nassau County coordinating fire/police disaster planning, having served for three years in Albany as a member of the New York State Emergency Medical Services Council and having served as co-chief administrator of the Nassau County Fire/Police Training Academy would serve the congressional district well in the field of homeland security, an issue he sees as extremely important. "Stop the politicizing of it. Look at the problem and see what you need. Someone has to step up to the plate and speak out," he said.

Blessinger doesn't see Nassau County stepping up to the plate when it comes to a disaster plan. "I don't think anyone knows the plan. A plan isn't a plan unless everyone knows it," he said. "Leadership is action. It's doing something, not talking about it."

Blessinger said he is for developing alternative cleans forms of energy and making sure every student graduates from high school. He believes in choice when it comes to the needs of children and creating choice by offering tax-deductible tuition for private schools and believes the federal government should consider giving grants for start-up charter schools. "There are school districts in the 4th Congressional District which are wonderful. There are districts that are a disaster. Every day you lose with a child in school is a day that's lost," he said. "You have to have an upwardly mobile, optimistic middle class. If you don't have that, people fall into despair."

As for the war in Iraq, Blessinger said he is for finishing the job. "Stability is the goal. We're there now. We should continue to strongly encourage them [the Iraqi leadership]. We have got to get it done," he said.

Blessinger is running on the Republican and Conservative Party lines.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 7. Voting will take place from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at your local polling place.