For more than two decades, Jacqueline Gordon of Copiague has served her country as a member of the United States Army, including serving two tours in Iraq. Now, the Copiague resident wants to serve her Town.

Nominated as the Democratic candidate to run for the seat of Dave Bishop who is not seeking reelection in November, Gordon said she sees the opportunity as the perfect "next step" in her life. She faces opposition from Republidcan Mark Gallo of Lindenhurst, also a veteran.

Always driven by the passion to move on and stay vitally engaged in life, a passion instilled in her by her parents, Gordon said she's anxious to become the Town's next lawmaker.

"My father always said success comes when preparation meets with opportunity," said Gordon, a guidance counselor at Wilson Tech. "So I believe in preparing yourself, which is what I have tried to do all my life."

Gordan is the mother of two teenagers, a girl 17 and a boy 15. She received her undergraduate degree from Hunter College and her master's at Queens College, where she also received her professional certification. She served in Iraq from 2003 to 2004 and was also called up and served in Dessert Storm.

Jacqueline Gordon, left and Mark Gallo right. "She's an excellent candidate and we believe she will make a great Council person," said Robert Stricoff, Babylon Town Democratic leader.

While she acknowledges that she's light on the political issues she may be called up to deal with as an elected official, Gordon said that her experiences so far in life have prepared her to deal with almost anything. She has learned to surround herself with caring people who have helped her while she was deployed overseas, and knows how to utilize time management skills and set priorities.

"I don't know the details about issues, but I do know that I like what I see in the (Supervisor Steve) Bellone administration," she said. "The Town is moving in the right direction and I would like to be a part of the Town Board as that continues."

With her role as an educator, she said she believes she would be helpful working in youth programs and has admired the administration's push to beautify and revitalize Wyandanch. She also would like to work with the Town's veterans, putting programs together and helping them resolve problems.

For the campaign, Gordon said she'd continue to count on the people in her life that she has relied upon for support in the past. Friends, family and colleagues will be out walking and campaigning for her. "And of course I am looking forward to working with Bob Stricoff and the Democratic party, which reached out to me and offered me this opportunity," she said.

Republican Mark Gallo of Lindenhurst, 38, is retired from the U.S.Navy and worked for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. He is now the owner and operator of his own security firm, Patriot Security of Lindenhurst.

"I have always been interested in public service and believe it is an honorable way to serve," said Gallo who ran unsuccessfully for the school board in 2003.

"I think that it is important to have a Republican voice on the Town Board," said Gallo, who added that if elected, he would focus on making the Town more affordable for seniors and young families.