Assemblyman David Sidikman has represented the 13th Assembly District for the last 12 years and believes the experience he has gained in that time is irreplaceable.

Sidikman's ability was challenged last month when Chuck Lavine announced his candidacy for the 13th Assembly District forcing a primary to determine the Democratic candidate. Lavine drew support from County Executive Tom Suozzi Legislator Diane Yatauro and Glen Cove Mayor Mary Ann Holzkamp.

Sidikman is proud of his accomplishments over the last 12 years and is disappointed that he will have to endure a primary. "The primary disappoints and saddens," said Sidikman. It is disappointing that my own party and the leadership of my party sees fit to run a primary against me although a do have a lot of support from those in my party."

One criticism that Lavine had was the way New Yorkers are forced to pay for Medicaid by having the county taxpayers pay half the state's Medicaid expense, forcing local property taxes to skyrocket. He recently said that "...in the State of New York, local taxes are 72 percent higher than the national average...That is unacceptable."

Sidikman said Lavine is pointing fingers at the wrong person. "I agree with [Lavine] that Medicaid is a burden on the localities. Assemblyman Sweeny has a bill to cap the Medicaid for any increases and I am a co-sponsor for the bill," he said. "For a long time, the Assembly's position has been that if there are any new programs, that the state pick it up, but the Governor vetoes those measures. They are complaining against the wrong guy - they should be complaining against the governor."

Sidikman is proud of the amount of funding that he brought to his district throughout his tenure as Assemblyman. He was responsible for having Route 135 re-paved, getting approximately $6 million in grants for the Waterfront Rehabilitation plan, bringing school aid to the Plainview-Old Bethpage school district and obtaining grant money for the Town of Oyster Bay to change the white lighting to yellow lighting throughout the town.

He also has supported local libraries giving grants to the Plainview Old Bethpage library, and a large grant for their expansion, a large grant to the Glen Cove Library for their expansion and was instrumental in creating three new libraries in the district - Locust Valley, Cold Spring Harbor and the Gold Coast Library.

Other issues important to Sidikman are environmental issues as he is on the environmental committee. He was active in preventing an additional golf course at the Bethpage State Park and was an active participant in the creation of Trail View State Park.

According to Sidikman, it is important to him that Nassau Community College and the SUNY colleges get their share of grant money.

Sidikman said he running on his record, experience, seniority and my ability to deliver for the district. He believes that one of the most important parts of the jobs is constituent work. "We have an excellent staff doing constituent work and it is our job to help them and cut through the red tape," he said. "We have had a high rate of success at being able to solve problems quickly."

According to the assemblyman, you can't replace the experience of a senior member with a freshman. "You substitute a senior member of the legislature on very important committees with a freshman - yeah - he is going to change the whole system over night. Who would believe that?" said Sidikman. "I am in step with the philosophy of the district, which is pro-choice and pro-education. I am active in community life. There is no reason for me not to continue the job that I am doing."