(Editor's Note: The election numbers contained in this article are not official results.)

Residents headed to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 2, Election Day 2004, to vote for their candidates of choice. As in 2000, the Presidential race was not decided when most residents went to bed Tuesday night. Rather, at approximately 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Senator John Kerry made the phone call to President George W. Bush conceding victory. Election numbers on the Presidential race were still not final at press time although it is certain that Bush did win.

Democratic Senator Charles Schumer was overwhelmingly supported in his bid for re-election to his senate seat receiving 72 percent of the voters' support with 4,368,286 votes over Republican challenger Howard Mills who received 1,518,664 votes.

In the Second Congressional District, Democratic incumbent Steve Israel was returned to office by voters with 156,268 votes, which represented 66 percent of the vote, over Republican challenger Steve Hoffman.

In the Third Congressional District, Republican incumbent Peter King was re-elected with 167,008 votes, which represented 63 percent of the vote, over Democratic challenger Blair Mathies who received 97,534.

In the Fifth Senatorial District, Republican incumbent Carl Marcellino was re-elected receiving 76,313 votes, which represented 57 percent of the votes over Democratic challenger Charles Brisbane who received 56,693 votes.

In the Sixth Senatorial District, Republican incumbent Kemp Hannon was re-elected to office with 62,922 votes, which represented 57 percent of the votes over Democratic challenger Charles Ferzola who received 47,341 votes.

In the 13th Assembly District, Democratic candidate Charles Lavine, who defeated incumbent Assemblyman David Sidikman in a primary in September, was elected to office with 32,545 votes, which represented 59 percent of the total votes over Republican challenger Phillip Sciarillo who received 17,983 votes. David Sidikman was also on the ballot on the Independent and Working Families party lines. Sidikman received 4,331 votes.

In the 15th Assembly District, Republican incumbent Donna Ferrarra received 31,408 votes, which represented 62 percent of the vote over Democratic challenger Richard Taubman who received 19,652.

In addition to electing candidates, voters in the Town of Oyster Bay also had the opportunity to vote on two environmental bond referendums on Tuesday. The first was a $50 million Environmental Bond Act for all Nassau County voters to vote on, which was passed with 171,545 residents voting yes and 52,449 voting no.

The law's key component will allow the county to purchase development rights to farmland and horse farms. Only five farms remain in Nassau County. Development rights would ensure that these farms remain for generations to come without the county exercising any maintenance costs.

A portion of the $50 million bond will be used for acquisition and improvement of the Nassau County park system. Purchases of available land may be made to increase the size of parkland for both active and passive purposes. County facilities with playgrounds, athletic fields, outdoor concert sites and equestrian capabilities may all benefit from the proposed referendum. Improvements to Nassau's recreational historical and museum facilities may also be made with portions of the bonds; however, routine maintenance to parks will not be covered under the agreement. In addition to preserving county parkland, a portion of the funds generated will be used on clean water projects designed to protect Nassau County's groundwater. If the referendum passes, the county will consider projects that construct or improve sediment collection basins, storm drain catch basins and end-of-pipe treatment. Monies raised through the referendum may also be used to rehabilitate brownfields in Nassau. These sites currently are unusable due to past contamination. Continued cleanup of sites will allow Nassau County to regain control of these lands and put them to proper use within the communities.

The bond is expected to cost the average Nassau household $7 per year.

Oyster Bay voters had the opportunity to vote on the $30 million SEA Fund II, which was also passed with 45,534 voting in favor and 18,934 against the bond.

Half of the $30 million will be used for open space and parkland acquisition and the other half for park improvements throughout the town.

The SEA Fund II bond will cost the average household in the Town of Oyster Bay less than $1.35 per month.