Third Party candidate to run against Congressman King
by Tiffany Elliott

Pete King

Third Congressional District residents would vote for a new third party candidate if they are convinced the candidate would listen to them and vote on the basis of what the majority wants, according to North Massapequa resident Bill Corrigan who just announced his run for the seat currently held by Congressman Peter King (R-Massapequa).

"We found that 74.9 percent of our survey takers are staying away from the polls come election day because they believe they have too little of a choice. It's like the lesser of two evils," said 36-year old Corrigan, an independent candidate who said he would most likely run under the "Long Island" or "Islander " party banner.

According to the political newcomer, 8,000 registered voters responded last month to his online website "Democracy Direct" and completed the survey.

Voters can make their vote count, literally, on Corrigan's website. He said that if elected, he would do whatever the results of his polls tell him, even to the point of setting aside his own opinions and beliefs.

"I plan on bringing pure representation to the Congress. Even if I may not agree with what the people tell me to do, I'll still do it."

Bill Corrigan

Despite the enthusiasm he brings to the challenge, there's nothing relatively dramatic about his plan to use telephones, faxes, internet and the U.S. Postal service to reach constituents. Not only King, his opponent, but every other politician promotes their work using the latest technology and have aides who man offices to which constituents can respond, ask questions or lodge complaints. But the difference, said Corrigan is that the communication will be one way- voters to him- and that he would not spend taxpayers money to contact voters.

"That's the point," said Corrigan, in addressing the issue. "People can contact me, I won't be bothering them (with mailings).

Some of the results from Corrigan's survey found that: 57 percent of those who completed the survey support slowly removing the troops from Iraq; 87 percent are against the wind farm off the South Shore; 84 percent of LIRR commuters rated the LIRR "very safe;" 64 percent want stiffer penalties for DWI crimes; 67 percent are against erecting a fence between US and Mexico: 34 percent said they'd always vote for Democrats; and 38 percent said they'd always vote for Republicans.

"Because of my background as a systems analyst, I decided to analyze why people don't vote, and in the process invented a new way of informing your representative about what you want," he explained, adding that he has plans to create the communication system for voters via phone, fax, computer and mail, as well as having a "walk-in" facility and an outreach program.

"In serving a community, it's essential that a representative hears constituents, not just the most influential and powerful people, but everyone," said the married father of two who's lived in North Massapequa since 2001.

Corrigan says he personally likes Congressman Peter King, but believes the Republican lawmaker has been in office too long, and needs to replaced.

"I believe I would be a good candidate for the seat because I would have the humility to say 'this is what the people want' and I'd be able to listen even if I don't agree," he said.

"After 15 years in his seat, King has become ineffectual," added the candidate, who works on Wall Street.

In addition to being the vice president of a Fortune 500 financial institution, he is an alumni mentor in the St. John's Coach program, and a member of the American Management Association. He sits on the board of directors of the Little Louie Foundation, a charity for pediatric brain cancer, is a member of the Ancient Order of Hybernians, and founder of the Whaleneck River Preservation Society. He is also a lifetime member of the Association for the Help of Retarded Children.

King, a Republican, is serving his eighth term in the U.S. House of Representatives. First elected to represent New York's Third District in 1992, King was re-elected in 2006 with more than 56 percent of the vote. He is a Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee and also serves on the Financial Services Committee. Congressman King has been a leader in the ongoing effort to have Homeland Security funding based on threat analysis and is a strong supporter of the war against international terrorism, both at home and abroad. Congressman King is co-author of the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 (H.R 4437) which passed the House in 2005 and is the most comprehensive legislation against illegal immigration to pass the House in two decades. Rep. King is strongly opposed to amnesty for illegal immigrants.

Corrigan calls the proposal to erect a 700-mile fence to keep immigrants out- a proposal King supports- "ridiculous.

"We need to come up with a new solution such as making economic trade pacts with the other countries, instead of just putting up a barrier," said Corrigan. "More locally, we need to set up a location for these illegal workers so they have somewhere to go to look for work. We need to force the hand of the employers, not the employees."

Corrigan says he has a mixed bag of support for his campaign run.

"Both the Democratic and Republican parties are trying to figure what I am," he laughed. "I have received support from all across the board, from students, from other independents and even Democrats and Republicans.V oters just want another choice."

Reached in Washington, King said: "I am running hard for reelection, no matter who my opponent is. I encourage people to get involved in the political process."

The Third Congressional District, which has 196,512 registered republicans and 13,799 Democrats, covers the area of Massapequa to Long Beach.

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