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Long Islanders help elect Barack Obama

Sen. Chuck Fuschillo speaks to supporters on election night. At left is Assemblyman Joseph Saladino. On Long Island, voters helped elect Barack Obama on Election day, Nov. 4. Unofficial tallies showed that in Suffolk County, 318,920 voters voted for Obama to McCain's 289,236. In Nassau, the vote was 316,523 for Obama and 272,756 for McCain.

"In all my years on Long Island I have never seen the turnout like this," said Myrna Taylor of Amityville. "It was amazing."

Not everyone was as enthused, however. "To be honest, I don't like either Presidential candidate," said Maureen Campbell of Massapequa as she headed to the polls. "I still don't know what I will do. The one thing I do know, however, is that I am here to support (Congressman) Peter King because he does a great job for us here on Long Island."

"We have been voting together for more than 20 years, said the Morans of Massapequa. "This is the longest we have ever seen the lines. It's great. I believe Obama will be good for our country and it is very exciting."

At left, Assemblyman Joseph Saladino with U,S. Congressman Peter King after results showed they were reelected last week. At right, Saladino and Sen. Kemp Hannon share their victories. At Lockhart Elementary School, the PTA took the opportunity to hold a bake sale, and many people stopped by before getting in line. Munching on a brownie, Vinny DeGaetano said the election brough people to the polls. "I don't care who people vote for, I am just happy people came out," he said, adding that he believes President George W. Bush has done a good job.

In the 17th Election District, which covers Massapequa from Jerusalem Avenue to the water and from the Town of Hempstead line to the Village of Massapequa Park, voters went against the Long Island and national trend voting 64 percent for McCain. They voted for King with 76 percent of the vote, Hannon with 68 percent and Fuschillo with 79 percent pluralities, said Peter Schmitt, the GOP leader in that area. "We did very well and the turnout was excellent. We didn't even have to make phone calls to get people to the polls.

Peter King (R-3rd District), defeated Democrat Graham Long with 64 percent of the vote. Also Earning reelection was Democratic Congressman Steve Israel (2nd District) who defeated Republican Frank Stalzer, a fomer Massapequan, with 66 percent of the vote.

At the state level, the public returned Republicans, Sens. Charles Fuschillo (8th District), who defeated his opponent Graham Long with 61 percent of the vote and Kemp Hannon, who defeated Kristen McElroy with 52 percent of the vote.

Republican Assemblymen Joseph Saladino (12th District) won reelection against Keith Scalia with 68 percent of the vote.

"I am extremely grateful and thank the people of my community from the bottom of my heart," said Saladino upon learning of his easy victory last week. "I will continue to work hard, be active and a strong vocal advocate for those who placed their trust in me."

Saladino celebrated with Fuschillo, Hannon and others as Republicans gathered to hear the election results. Their main concern, however, was the impact of the change in Albany, where voters have placed the Senate in Democratic hands, giving the Democrats both houses and the Governor's office. Political pundits and the like were trying to figure out what it all means, particularly for Long Island. Some, like Republican leader Anthony Pancella of Babylon said it would be devastating.

"We can look for a lot of money being diverted to New York City because Albany is now run by New York City Democrats," he said. "Even with the strong lobby we had from Albany, we were getting far less in state aid than we sent up there and that gap is only going to widen," he predicted.

Long Island had nine Republican Senators in Albany, a figure that was reduced to eight with the loss of Sen. Caesar Trunzo to Democrat Brian Foley in the 3rd Senate District. More significant, it meant the loss of the Senate majority for the Republicans and Senate leader Dean Skelos.

Others said the pressure to deliver is now on the Democrats and they are keenly aware of that.

"Our (Long Island's) voters are important and Albany insiders don't take them for granted," said one Democratic leader. "That would be a huge mistake and they (the state party leaders) are smart enough to understand that."

Nonetheless, Gov. David Paterson, facing the same financial pressures that are being felt in every community and every household in the state and the nation, has called lawmakers back to Albany Nov. 18 to look for ways to reduce state spending. That adds to the reality of what Long Islanders are going to face in the near future. "The change (in leadership in the state) has put everyone here on the Island in a very tenuous position," said Saladino.