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Sweeney faces opposition from Conservative candidate Don Nohs When New York State Assemblyman Bob Sweeney ran for the first time in a special election more than 18 years ago, he won by 48 votes. Each of his campaigns since then has been robust and full speed ahead, despite the fact that he's enjoyed more comfortable pluralities since that first run. "I always try and remember that first election and try to do all that needs to be done in a good campaign," said Sweeney as he discussed his bid for reelection. Sweeney, who once again faces no major party opposition, is challenged by Don Nohs, a Conservative who says he is running because he believes the values of the Conservative party are important today. "I believe we have a lot of issues that have an impact on children and families," said Nohs, a trained facilitator with the Diocese of Rockville Center, a member of the Sons of Italy John Bosco Lodge and assistant to the waste management commissioner in the Town of Brookhaven. "My focus in running for the Assembly is to make the community safer for children, and to prevent sexual abuse." Nohs, himself the victim of sexual abuse at the hands of a priest when he was a child, supports civil confinement for sex offenders and wants the state's sexual abuse mandating reporting law broadened. Currently, he says, it does not include mandated reporting unless the abuser is a parent or guardian. "Anyone who perpetuates the abuse, whether they are lurking in the bushes, or sitting in the living room of the victim's home, should be reported," said Nohs, who notes that the Democratically controlled Assembly has held up the law on civil confinement for convicted sexual felons who, despite having served their sentences, continue to pose a threat to society. Sweeney has spoken on the issue and says that he supports civil confinement but is concerned that the state couple that with mental health care during incarceration. He also wants to ensure that the state has enough and adequate facilities for those who will be civilly confined before it enacts the law, pointing out that these felons cannot be placed in the general population at mental health facilities. Nohs is part of a major change in the Conservative party in Suffolk County with the death of longtime and powerful Conservative leader Pasquale Curcio earlier this year. And, part of that change includes a broadening of power and responsibility to bring Conservative values into the public debate, he said. "That is also one of the reasons I am running," said Nohs. "I have a personal connection with the issues I am raising and I believe someone new in office may give them a better chance of passing at the state level." Sweeney says he's running on his record of experience and achievement. "The fact is that I do get results for the district and I sponsored more bills that were signed into law than any member of the Assembly," he said. "I am proud of that and have worked closely with local governments sponsoring bills for them, as well as supporting many major projects that have helped to improve life for my constituents." Sweeney points to the record high increases in school aid for the area, and the passage of the EXCEL grants, which will provide local schools on Long Island with millions of dollars in school aid for the refurbishment of facilities. "This money helps the state meet the court-ordered decision for capital improvements (in New York City), but is also a reasonable first step to ensure that the money is distributed equitably, and that Long Island gets its fair share," he said. Nohs grew up in Copiague and now lives in American Venice, Lindenhurst. He is married and the father of three. He is also a member of the Diocesan Review Board, which oversees claims of abuse made against the clergy. Nohs supports the LIPA windfarm project, saying it will provide an environmentally safe method of generating electricity for Long Island, while his opponent has raised serious concerns about it. "I am not concerned about the esthetics, but do have major problems with the price, because it is going to make costs for electricity higher, not lower," said Sweeney.
Sweeney also objects to the argument offered by LIPA that a vote against the windfarm is a vote for more gasfired energy plants. "That is an invalid argument," said Sweeney, "particularly since there are other options out there such as power sources from the action of tides and currents. I don't think this project has been well thought out, and if it goes through and does not turn out to be the panacea that LIPA is suggesting, it will turn people off to alternative energy and that would be unfortunate."
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