The crowd grew steadily at the Polish Hall in Glen Cove after 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 14, as residents came to hear the results of the 13th A.D. primary race between longtime incumbent David Sidikman and City Councilman Chuck Lavine. The results, however, were slow in coming and more than one politico was seen wiping his brow with a handkerchief. But spirits were kept high, with Lavine's most vocal cheerleader, County Executive Thomas Suozzi calling out, "Let's hear it for Chuck Lavine!" every so often. The race was so close that at one point Suozzi announced that the results might not be in until close to midnight, but added a comment that clearly pleased the crowd. Stating that Sidikman had taken Plainview, as expected, and Lavine Glen Cove, as expected, the county executive added, "But we did better in Glen Cove than Sidikman did in Plainview."

The final numbers from the Nassau County Board of Elections gave Lavine 3,469 votes and Sidikman 3,225, which translated as 52 percent to 48 percent. In Glen Cove, Lavine received a remarkable 1,334 votes to Sidikman's 182. In his concession speech, Sidikman remarked, "They really got the vote out in Glen Cove."

Nassau County Comptroller Howard Weitzman said "Don't bet against Suozzi" and Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs, who recognized the ability of the county executive to get things done by invoking Suozzi's election time mantra. "He's done it again," Jacobs said, "and remember, he can do it because he's done it."

Lavine was picked as the first soldier in the county executive's fight to "Fix Albany." "We started a revolution," Suozzi said. "Our nation came to be based on one simple issue-taxation without representation." Suozzi jokingly called Mr. Lavine "Paul Revere riding through the 13th Assembly District." Throughout the campaign, Lavine said he was in the fight because "Sidikman doesn't think there is anything wrong with the process in Albany and I do."

In his acceptance speech, Lavine expressed just what those wrongs are.

"For 20 years, Albany failed in its obligation to deliver a budget on time, damaging our state's financial stability, making it more difficult to plan for our public school budgets and costing us uncounted millions in interest. For all those years, we pleaded with Albany to act responsibly. They just didn't listen to us. Don't you think they should have heard us?

"For years, Albany has forced the expense of Medicaid onto the backs of the local property taxpayer. Over and over and over we asked for help. They just didn't listen to us. Don't you think they should have heard us?

"For years, Albany has failed in its obligation to provide funding for public education, forcing its expense onto the shoulders of us property taxpayers. Over and over and over, we asked for help while our public schools encountered greater challenges. They just didn't listen to us. Don't you think they should have heard us?

"For years, Albany has not only been broken, but it has been the worst legislature in the United States. Over and over and over, we asked for reform but got none. They just didn't listen to us. Don't you think they should have heard us?

"Well, my friends, let me ask you just one question. Do you think they hear us now?"

Lavine acknowledged that this "political fight of our lives" would not be over "even when we have won [on November 2] and we meet to celebrate that win. For this is a battle to reform our very state government itself. And, my friends, that is a fight that will take a long time but again, it is a fight that we will win."

At his headquarters, Assemblyman David Sidikman thanked all of his supporters as he conceded the election at approximately 11 p.m. "It appears that the numbers are slightly against us," he said. Sidikman said he plans to fulfill his duties as assemblyman through the remainder of his term and in that time do what he has been doing for the last 12 years-serve the great 13th Assembly District.

In the fifth Senate District, on the Conservative line, incumbent Republican Senator Carl Marcellino defeated challenger Henry Nowicki with 76 percent of the vote. Marcellino received 355 votes and Nowicki received 111 votes.

In the third Congressional District, on the Republican line, incumbent Republican Congressman Peter King defeated challenger Robert Previdi with 84 percent of the vote. King received 7,921 votes and Previdi received 1,558 votes.