In the 3rd. Congressional District, which stretches as far northwest as Manhasset and as far southeast as Massapequa, Republican Congressman Peter King of Seaford, who also ran on the Conservative Party line, won by a large margin. He will serve a fourth term in the House of Representatives.

According to unofficial results obtained from the Nassau County Board of Elections at press time, King received approximately 64 percent of all votes. His Democratic Challenger Kevin Langberg of Plainview received approximately 35 percent of all votes, and Liberal candidate Thomas Dilavore received just under 1 percent, according to the unofficial results.

In a telephone interview Wednesday, King said that he was gratified by the election and pleasantly surprised by how large the margin was. "I look upon it as a vote of confidence to continue doing what I've been doing up until now - that is working hard and taking nothing for granted." He added that he was saddened by D'Amato's loss, whom he described as a very old and dear friend. Asked to analyze the loss, King who was with D'Amato and his supporters on election night said, "In New York state, Republicans start off a million votes behind the Democrats. There's a million more Democrats than Republicans in New York, so for a Republican to win in the first place, you have to do everything right, and you have to do something different from your opponent. In other words, you have to be pretty unusual and pretty unique. Al D'Amato was very unusual," he said, adding that the strong points that helped him get elected, such as being outspoken and controversial, worked against him this election. "After 18 years of being controversial, and 18 years of being outspoken, you make a lot of enemies. And your enemies don't forget, and the people you do favors for, the people you have helped, they often forget."

King noted that his own victory will enable him to continue "fighting hard for Long Island," for example, by continuing to win funds for breast cancer studies and beach restoration. In addition, he said, he will continue to work in a bi-partisan way on issues such as Social Security and Medicare, and to "fight to make sure New York gets its fair share." He added, "I think it's an endorsement of my policy of voting with the Republicans on key issues, but on the other hand being willing to reach out and work with Democrats when it's helpful to the district and to New York."

Langberg said Wednesday that the campaign brought to light key middle class issues. "It's always gratifying to see that the issues that were important, hopefully resonated with a lot of residents and through a lot of voters," he said, noting that his top issues include health care, campaign finance reform, preserving Social Security and Medicare, and raising school academic standards, making college tuition tax deductible. "Those are the issues that are really important to families and that's what was important to me, and what spurred me to run for Congress in the first place."

He also indicated a strong interest in the fate of the Democratic Party in Nassau County and noted that he hopes to run for office again some time in the future. "If I run in the future again, these are the issues that I'm going to be speaking about, that really relate to what's going on. I think Peter King is a fine person in his own right, but I don't think the Republican majority [in Congress] is really interested in crafting legislation that really, again relates to working families, because there's such a tilt toward the issues as it relates to southern and western states, and while these issues would be important to them as well, I don't think that they have the same level of concern to representatives down south as they do to Mr. King," he said, adding, "There's such a tilt towards the congressional leadership to the south and the west, and New Yorkers, northeastern, and major urban centers get shut out of the legislative process because the cloud is there."

Also re-elected was Congressman Gary Ackerman.

Local voters, apparently pleased, overall, with their current state of representation, were loyal to their incumbents on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3. In an election featuring the shocking upset of Democrat Charles Schumer over Al D'Amato for the U.S. Senate seat, there was little surprise in the local districts, where Assemblymen David Sidikman and Marc Herbst, Assemblywoman Donna Ferrara and Senator Carl L. Marcellino will all return.

Sidikman will be returning to the State Assembly for a fifth term now that the voters in the 13th Assembly District have spoken. According to election results from the Nassau County Board of Elections, Democrat-Independent Sidikman received a total of 20,893 votes, defeating rival Republican-Conservative David Zatlin, who posed one of the few serious challenges in all of the state races, using Republican funds to launch a major PR campaign. Zatlin received a total of 13,682 votes district-wide. Right to Lifer Joseph Cassin received 581 votes and Liberal Derreck D. Johnson garnered 247.

When reached for comment on his win, Sidikman said, "David Zatlin called me and congratulated me on a gentlemanly campaign. I suspect that the Republicans spent $250,000 to defeat me and the money came out of the Republican Assembly Campaign Committee."

Sidikman continued, "I ran on my record, on the things that I have been able to accomplish for all the people of the 13th Assembly District. The people understood that, and they have returned me to Albany. I shall continue to exercise my energy and focus to continue to act in their best interest and bring home the needed money for our children, seniors, roads, our waterfront and our working families."

Zatlin, who received his strongest support in his hometown of Glen Cove, said, "I thank...our supporters in Plainview, Jericho and Syosset. I want to thank them for all the help they gave me and for introducing me to some wonderful people in these communities. I'd also like to thank all the volunteers who took around petitions, made phone calls, knocked on doors and worked until 9 p.m. on election night to get the vote out for the Republicans."

And while Zatlin could not build up enough momentum to overthrow Sidikman, the state's incumbent Republicans fared better. There was little question going into November 3 that Republican-Conservative Marcellino would trounce opponents Democrat-Liberal Dennis Holland, a Nassau County Democratic Committee member, and Right to Lifer Gerard Crosson. Marcellino received 30,224 votes; Holland 18,131; and Crosson 1,091.

Even if the race was a no-brainer, Marcellino is relieved that the election process has concluded for another two years. "Now it's time to concentrate on the future," said Marcellino. That future includes, said the senator, pushing for the passing of Comparable Wages Act to ensure equity in pay among similar occupations, and the Pesticide Notification legislation. In regard to the latter, the environment-conscious senator said, "We're trying to educate the public on the better use of pesticides and to use them in a limited way."

Marcellino wanted to stress that while his legislative record speaks for itself, his continuing role in helping his constituents should not be overlooked. "I'm particularly pleased with what I've been able to do in serving my constituents. That's the important part, working with constituents, solving their problems, helping groups with legislative grants and publicizing their interests....It makes life good and it makes you feel good to help."

The senator said he believes his shiny track record influenced voters to send him back. "If you can't stand on your record, you haven't done your job," he said.

Holland said that it is nearly impossible for a Democratic challenger to defeat a Republican incumbent who has access to funding. Holland said that if he's learned anything from this campaign, if you only have $10,000 with which to campaign, "you might as well have nothing."

"In order to win, you have to cave in to special interest groups. I couldn't take money from some of the lobbyists in Albany," commented Holland.

Considering his economic hardship, Holland was pleased the percentage of votes he received ¬ 38 percent, the second best by a runner-up in the nine senatorial districts on Long Island.

Holland said that Marcellino is a "decent senator" and "deserved to win;" however, "he's just part of a political culture in Albany that's incompatible with the people of Long Island," referring to the Republican majority.

Ferrara, like Marcellino, probably didn't lose too much sleep on Election Night, unless she was out celebrating. The Republican-Conservative received 23,270 votes, more than doubling the 10,644 garnered by her closest opponent, Democrat-Liberal Irving Gerber, former school administrator. Right to Life candidate Charles Cuddy, Jr. collected 812 votes.

"I'm very happy that the voters were pleased with my record, both constituently and legislatively, to give me another term," said Ferrara, who said that she wants to have an "expanded role" in state policy, particularly focusing on auto insurance and HMO reform.

Gerber had always been resigned to the fact that a Democrat battling with few funds in a Republican-heavy district had little chance. "People generally vote by habit. Democrats vote for Democrats, Republicans vote for Republicans. Unless you can get your message out strongly and have a point of view that interests them [the voters], you're not going to do anything," said Gerber.

"I thought I had a good platform, but I don't think they knew it because it's too expensive to get your platform known," added Gerber, who chose campaign finance reform as his major issue. Gerber does not have future plans to seek political office.

In the race for the 14th Assembly District the incumbent Marc Herbst soundly defeated his challenger, Barbara Bubin-Buonagura.

According to the Nassau County Board of Elections, Herbst received 70 percent of the vote in securing his re-election bid. Herbst amassed 23,662 votes to Buonagura's 10,177.

"I would like to thank the voters of the 14th district who overwhelmingly supported returning me to office," said Herbst following his re-election to a fourth term in office.

"I think community services and community involvement was paramount [to winning]. When people know you and you are active they are more likely to support you. . . People feel they know that you are their neighbor and they are comfortable and confident that you know their views and are approachable."

Buonagura's fight for the "forgotten middle class," as she refers to the large percentage of 14th district residents, began almost eight months ago when she declared her candidacy and her desire to work for a change from within the political system. Buonagura admitted to having to battle throughout the campaign against the superior organization and the campaign funds of the Republican party.

"The odds were not in my favor. The funds were not available for an effective race, they were limited," said Buonagura. "I felt though that the people of the 14th Assembly District, which is consisted mostly of middle class working families, needed another, stronger voice in Albany."

She claims that her campaign received little if any support from the Democratic leadership at the county and town levels and due to that many of the 16,000 registered Democrats in the district did not come out to support her.

"I still feel that Marc Herbst, as a minority member in the Democratic assembly, will be ineffective at making any headway for the 14th Assembly District, especially the middle class people. He is more pro-business than he is pro-family," said Buonagura.

As Herbst enters into his fourth term he subsequently expects his role within the party to grow. He is presently the vice-chairman of the Republican Steering Committee and is the ranking Republican member of the Assembly Energy Committee. He stated he anticipates being appointed to a higher leadership position in the upcoming legislative session.

"In the upcoming term I am looking to continue the direction we have been going in lowering taxes and trying to bring more services and funds to Long Island," said Herbst.