RSS Feed
 |
|
|||||||||||||||
In 17th L.D. heated race between D'Amaro and Cook When Robert Cook talks about issues, you might have to double check his party banner. The Melville resident is running as a Republican for the seat currently held by S.C. Leg. Louis D'Amaro, a Democrat. But many of Cook's positions are left of the middle. He supports a "road to citizenship" for illegal immigrants already in this country as a means of getting them to pay for the services they use, and opposes the American policy in Iraq. "We are not going to be able to round up the millions of illegal immigrants in this country and deport them," said Cook. "And, we are Americans; we don't turn people away from schools and hospitals. So the next best thing to ensure that they pay their fair share." One way to do that, said Cook is to make all employers responsible for collecting payroll taxes. "This will help make sure that illegal immigration doesn't impact on those who have already gotten here legally," he said. His positions are not surprising when you learn that Cook was a lifelong Democrat before becoming a Reagan supporter and Republican. As a result, he says that he would make a good GOP lawmaker in the legislature because he would bring a measure of open-mindedness and conciliation that is sorely needed. Like Cook, D'Amaro says he understands that it is unreasonable to think that the country can round up illegal immigrants and deport them. But his position is that no one- not illegal immigrants nor corporate America- should be above the law. That is why he supported a measure in the legislature ensuring that anyone doing business with the county is not breaking the law by employing illegal immigrants. "They should comply with the same laws that hard-working taxpayers are asked to comply with," said D'Amaro. "Then why didn't he vote for a law that would have kept illegal immigrants looking for work off county road? asked Cook, who added he'd work to force all companies in Suffolk, not just those doing business with the county, to follow the law. That might take some work, however, as the federal government recently attempted to enforce immigration law by mandating that employers verify social security numbers for employees. That is now the subject of a lawsuit, and the program is on hold. Cook said his background gives him an opportunity to bring something special to the legislature. "I would be the worst kind of a politician, in that I am a Republican, my wife is a Democrat and we vote issues, not party line," he said. "I will work to bring the legislature together and do what is right for the people not party politics." The first way to accomplish that is to talk to people, open the lines of communication and let them know what needs to be done and why. But before that, he faces an uphill campaign against a popular incumbent who says his record of service is one that should win him reelection. "I have worked very hard for the people of my district, reducing taxes, protecting the environment and helping to bring about important reform in Suffolk," said D'Amaro. He points to numerous bills that increased police patrols, protected open space and fought for fiscal accountability. "We have lowered real property taxes in the county two years in a row and have formed a commission to evaluate some areas in which schools can cooperate and save taxpayers' money," said D'Amaro. "If he was concerned about school taxes, he should have run for the school board," said Cook of his opponent, to which D'Amaro responds that the commission is a bipartisan effort that has brought together people who are responsible and accountable to the public. "It's the responsible thing to do," said D'Amaro. "School taxes represent the largest portion of people's tax bills so if we can help school districts save money, which in turn helps taxpayers, we should be doing that." Cook is a fire commissioner in the Plainview Fire Department. He started the department's paramedic program, worked on major facilities improvements and improved the department's communications system. He also worked with the rest of the board to bring the budget under control. He decided to run after listening to his friends and family complaining about government one day at a party. "I said, 'don't just complain,' do something about it," he said. He did. He called S.C. Republican leader Harry Withers, offered his name as a volunteer and was told by Withers, "I have a job for you." That job was to run as a Republican against D'Amaro, a challenge he accepted. If elected, he said he would eliminate the county's 2.5 percent energy tax and give taxpayers back some of the $150 million county surplus. " D'Amaro said both campaign promises show a lack of understanding on Cook's part. Eliminating the energy tax would leave a $40 million hole in the operating budget, resulting in the need for a general property tax increase, he said. And there is no $150 million "surplus. "What he is talking about is the turnover savings that is used to fund the following year's operating budget, so giving it back would result in the county being forced to increase taxes the next year by 400 percent," said D'Amaro. "His comments about the eliminating energy tax, which was twice rejected by a bipartisan vote on the legislature, shows his inexperience." "It's a shell game," countered Cook. "That is not the way to run a business and it is not the way to run government." Efforts over the years to change the way in which the annual county budget is structured have been made, a change that D'Amaro said he supports but that he maintains has little chance of passing, he said. Cook wants to increase police patrols and manpower and said his experience as a firefighter and paramedic would be important on the legislature. D'Amaro said his record shows his commitment to public safety. During his time on the legislature he's added police officers and bike patrols, which helped reduce crime in his district. He's also helped protect the public by expanding the GPS program for sexual offenders and was the first one in the county legislature to call upon the state to enact a post civil confinement bill for sexual offenders. "We can always use more police, which is why I voted for more," he said. "But we also have to strike a balance between the right number of police and the cost, which I think we have done." "They took cops out of cars and put them on the street on bikes and on foot," said Cook. "I would make sure we hire more police officers because that is what we need." D'Amaro serves on the county's Ways and Means Committee, which is responsible for government oversight and procedures. He helped push through a law in the county that requires an independent commission- not elected county lawmakers- to draw legislative lines. "People once again will be picking their elected officials and not the other way around," said D'Amaro of the new law that will apply to the 2010 redistricting plan. But Cook said that D'Amaro's position, and that of his wife Chris who is a county attorney, poses a potential conflict in government. "It is her job to review what the legislature is doing and he is on the legislature," said Cook. "I think that is a conflict. Not so according to the county's ethic's committee, said D'Amaro, which not once but three times decided no conflict existed. "The county attorney works for the legislature and the county executive," he said. "We are on the same side, so there is no conflict." "It smells," said Cook. The 17th legislative district covers Huntington, Deer Park and North Babylon (west of Deer Park Avenue), as well as a small portion of West Babylon in the Town of Babylon, Elwood Half Hollow Hills, Harborfields, and Huntington. There are 15,308 registered Republicans, 16,108 registered Democrats and 13,907 voters with no party affiliation.
Election day is November 6. The polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
|
for larger version       Ads have a Patent Pending. Click Here for More Information |
||||||||||||||
