In the 21st Assembly District, Joseph DeFelice, a resident of Malverne with his own law practice in Queens, is running on the Democratic and Liberal party tickets.

DeFelice is a graduate of St. John's University, where he obtained his jurist doctorate and is licensed to practice law in both New York and Florida.

Since graduating in 1973, DeFelice worked as a law secretary to Supreme Court Justices in both New York and Kings Counties. He worked with the Bronx law firm Fusco & Fusco. He also worked as an assistant district attorney in Queens County and as a general attorney for the Department of Justices Immigration and Naturalization Service.

At his law firm, a general practice, DeFelice has handled cases involving corporations, criminal law, housing issues and bankruptcy as well as family court issues such as child abuse and neglect, battered women, adoption, matrimonial matters and juvenile delinquency.

He believes getting Nassau County back on solid financial footing to be of primary importance and hopes to work toward a solution to the county's financial woes as a member of the state legislature. "I sort of got upset over all the mismanagement that we were suffering in Nassau County under the Republican government," he said.

Having helped out on the campaigns of Democratic candidates in recent years, DeFelice was asked to run for office and accepted the challenge.

DeFelice favors fiscal responsibility when it comes to Nassau County. He supports Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi's proposal to create a Sewer and Storm Water Authority for Nassau County. The proposal, according to Suozzi, would save the county $25 million a year for four years by consolidating waste and storm water management. The sewer and storm water bill must be passed by the New York State Assembly and Senate in order to create the authority. "I think Suozzi is right in proposing it. It will save a lot of money," DeFelice said.

Another issue DeFelice is concerned with is the federal Superfund site Genzale Plating Company, located at 288 New Hyde Park Road in Franklin Square. "I really would like to see that cleaned up," he said. "I don't see why it hasn't been taken care of sooner."

According to an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report in April, chromium, cadmium and nickel were detected in both on-site and off-site monitoring wells. In addition, on-site wells showed contamination by volatile organic compounds. However, residents are not at risk of drinking this contaminated groundwater as they receive their drinking water from public water supplies that are routinely tested to ensure compliance with state and federal drinking water standards. Also according to the EPA report, there were measures taken in 1995 and 1997 to clean up the site and in May 2000, the Genzale plant ceased operation.

DeFelice believes that money is going to be needed to clean underground the facility. "In January, assuming that the building is taken down and that everything goes according to plan, they're going to need money to start getting this contamination out of the ground," he said.

In a press conference in July, United States Senator Chuck Schumer called on President George W. Bush to ensure that the decontaminations of the Genzale Plating Company site and other Superfund sites in New York State are not jeopardized by the Bush administration's decision to scale back funding for Superfund cleanup operations.

Another problem the residents of the state are experiencing is unfunded mandates, DeFelice believes. "It's easy for Pataki to cut taxes for the State of New York and then tell each individual county to do all these things. Some counties have more problems in one area than other areas. Some of these things can get out of control. It's harder for Nassau to get the funds without hurting people in their pocketbooks," he said, adding that unfunded mandates complicated Nassau's financial problems.

DeFelice said he is also concerned with social issues such as battered women, the indigent and abused children. "I'm aware of it from being a lawyer. I see what's happening. We have a problem," he said.

One problem DeFelice has seen is the difficulty for families who can't afford lawyers to get representation. "I think something has to be done," he said, adding that public defenders who tend to defend those who cannot afford attorneys may have to be paid more. "I'd like to be there to have somebody's ear and say something about this."

One prominent issue for many state residents is the state's economy, which has been on a downswing. DeFelice said he would like plans having to do with the World Trade Center site to move along. "It bothers me that we could be losing jobs because everybody is sitting back with their own political agenda," he said.

DeFelice has been walking the streets of the 21st assembly district, which includes Elmont, Franklin Square, West Hempstead and Floral Park among other communities. He said a major problem citizens are concerned with is high taxes. "The state has to do something," he said.

DeFelice feels that electing a Democrat in a Democratic controlled state assembly will help the residents of the 21st district and should be able to secure as much if not more state aid for the district. "I will listen to the people. I will listen to what their concerns are and try to use common sense," he said.

DeFelice believes his background in law has prepared him well for a seat on the Assembly. In his career as an attorney, he has appeared in both federal and state courts and has argued cases before the New York State Court of Appeals and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

"I think I can make a difference in voicing the concerns of the community," he said, adding that he supports the issues that will make Nassau County fiscally responsible and those that will end social injustice.