Gary Ackerman has been a member of the United States Congress since 1983 when he succeeded the late Benjamin Rosenthal. Throughout the remainder of the 1980s, the congressman's district was located entirely in sections of Queens County. However, after the 1990 census redistricting process, Rep. Ackerman has represented slices of both Nassau and Suffolk counties, in addition to keeping parts of Queens County.

The 5th C.D. has been redrawn again. It now consists mostly of the North Shore of Nassau County and northern and central Queens County, including such municipalities as Roslyn, East Hills, Great Neck, Manhasset, Port Washington, East Williston, Williston Park, Old Westbury and Searingtown.

This year Rep. Ackerman is running for his 10th term and is being challenged by Perry Reich, an attorney from Lindenhurst, who is running on the Conservative Party line. The Ackerman campaign successfully challenged the Republican Party's petition drive for the upcoming race, thus leaving Mr. Reich as their only opposition.

As with his opponent, Rep. Ackerman was asked to comment on various domestic and foreign issues facing both Long Islanders and the nation as a whole.

Concerning the 5th C.D., Rep. Ackerman cited education, the environment, the general economy, social security, "terrorism related issues" and health care, including prescription drug coverage as the major issues facing his constituents.

On the economics front, Rep. Ackerman listed several pieces of federal legislation designed to both alleviate current economic difficulties and to crack down on corporate fraud.

"I am cosponsoring legislation to extend unemployment benefits for an additional 13 years as well as supporting an increase in the minimum wage and a pension reform bill that includes portability and better helps individuals secure their retirements," he said. "I have supported tougher penalties for corporate wrongdoing and sponsored legislation that bars accounting firms from consulting for the companies they audit. In addition, I believe we need to close the loophole that allows corporations to go overseas to avoid paying taxes."

Rep. Ackerman was also asked about the most pressing foreign issue facing lawmakers in Washington. As with Mr. Reich, he said he generally supports President Bush's approach to the situation in Iraq.

"Although I continue to have grave concerns over the Bush Administration's handling of this issue and the timing of it, I did support the resolution to use force against Iraq because it was the right thing to do," he said.

"It was not a very happy yes, but an absolute necessary yes," the congressman continued. "Sit through the hearings and the briefings and you come to the incontrovertible conclusion that Saddam Hussein is not just posturing, he's planning to do something terribly evil. Each day he remains unchecked is a day he gets stronger and our job becomes tougher and more dangerous. We continue to work through the U.N. with congress and our president in the backdrop."

Finally, Rep. Ackerman cited his legislature experience as the most significant difference between Mr. Reich and himself.

"I have 25 years experience in helping to solve the most difficult problems whether in local, national and international areas," he said. "These include 20 years in Congress and five years in the New York State Senate."

Rep. Ackerman is a native of Flushing and a graduate of Queens College. Before entering politics, his career has spanned both education and journalism. In the mid-1960s, he taught both mathematics and social science at a middle school in Queens.

Several years later, he left the teaching profession to become the founder and first publisher of The Queens Tribune. In 1978, Rep. Ackerman was first elected to the New York State Senate. He then sold the paper and concentrated full-time on politics. In 1983, he was, as noted, appointed to fill the congressional seat left vacant by the death of Benjamin Rosenthal. He was first elected as the 5th C.D.'s congressman in 1984.