Congressman Steve Israel Incumbent Congressman Steve Israel—a four term Democrat in the House of Representatives, 2nd Congressional District—and businessman Frank Stalzer will duke it out on Election Day, Nov. 4. The district covers parts of Babylon — Deer Park and East Farmingdale — as well as towns in Huntington, Islip and Oyster Bay.

On the Democratic ticket, Congressman Steve Israel, 50, hopes to be re-elected for his support of middleclass America and his efforts to expand renewable energy resources.

Running on the Republican-Conservative line is Frank Stalzer, 51, president of Astrex Electronics, who wants to put his business know-how to work, fixing the financial woes in Washington by slashing "pork barrel" spending while boosting the economy with tax cuts.

Israel sees himself as an advocate for the middle class. At a recent press conference on the Hill — Israel unveiled a middle class success agenda. The legislation is a collection of 13 separate bills from various members of Congress including a college tuition tax credit capped at $10,000 for families earning up to $200,000. The group of legislation also has perks for families caring for aging parents (even if it is outside the home) and corporations who utilize telecommuters.

Frank Stalzer Dix Hills-resident Israel returns to Long Island each weekend to see his wife Marlene Budd, a Suffolk County Family Court Judge, and Max the dog. (He also has two daughters in college.)

Throughout his eight year career in Congress, "I have only spent two weekends in Washington D.C.," Israel said in a recent phone interview.

Because of this weekly commute, he prides himself on knowing his constituents. "People see me at the diner, at the pizzeria and raking my leaves in my yard." He also knows his neighbors well, since he served on the Huntington Town Board from 1993-2000 before he was elected to Congress.

Besides the information he gets from bumping into folks at local restaurants, Israel uses his Web site to understand how federal issues such as the recent credit crisis and the "bailout" bill, affect people.

"I literally asked thousands of people on my Web site how the credit crisis was affecting them," Israel said. He learned that some people couldn't get money for college, others were denied car loans and still others were afraid to retire although they were nearing 70 years old. That's why he supported the bailout plan this week to help ease the credit crunch.

While Israel is posed as a man of the people, Stalzer sees himself as business-minded watchdog barking at entrenched politicians addicted to spending. Stalzer, president of Astrex Electronics in Plainview, thinks that businessmen, not politicians can fix Washington.

"A big thing is that spending is out of control in Washington with earmarks and pork-barrel spending," Stalzer said. He notes that Israel has earmarked millions for his Congressional district.

Instead of taking money for special interests, "we should be looking for ways to stimulate the economy with jobs and opportunities," Stalzer said. "We are one of the most overtaxed and over regulated countries in the world…we have the second highest corporate tax in the world. Companies do not want to build businesses here."