Donna Ferrara, who has served as assemblywoman in the 15th Assembly District since 1992, is running for re-election for a fifth term.

During an interview in her district office on Post Avenue in Westbury last week, the Republican incumbent pointed to the major accomplishments of her terms in office. She noted that while her challenger has said she wants to promote health care reform, she has been working on this area for several years.

For example, she said she was responsible for landmark legislation prohibiting discrimination by insurance companies against breast cancer patients. She said her efforts to get the legislation passed, which included overcoming the powerful insurance lobby, demonstrated her ability as a legislator, and earned her respect that propelled her to the role of ranking member of the Assembly Insurance Committee. As a result of her successful efforts, the Nassau County League of Women Voters presented her with the Women's Leadership Award in 1994.

Ferrara, a resident of Westbury, noted that she wants to be re-elected so that she can continue to work on behalf of constituents. "I enjoy this job. I really like the ability to help people, and make a difference in people's lives, and I would like to continue to do that," she said.

For example, while her opponent is calling for measures to help seniors pay for prescription drugs, Ferrara said she has been involved in a program that directly addresses this issue. She said she voted for legislation creating, and then expanding, a state prescription drug coverage program for senior citizens, known as EPIC. The program, initiated last year, currently serves 120,000 seniors. With the expansion of income eligibility limits this year, to $35,000 for singles and $50,000 for a married couple, Ferrara believes the plan will benefit many more.

Among other efforts on behalf of health care consumers, she said she also led a rally in support of coverage for infertility treatments. With regard to the abortion issue, the incumbent said that she is pro-choice, although she said a recent Newsday article incorrectly described her as pro-life.

Currently, Ferrara is promoting a bill which requires that milk produced from cows that are given growth hormones is labeled as such, because of potential health hazards.

Ferrara has also earned approval in the area of environmental policy. In 1996, she was ranked first among all 211 legislators by the Environmental Advocates Group for her exceptional voting on environmental issues. She has continued to be ranked at or near the top of all legislators each year, and has been a recipient of the Profiles in Green Courage Award.

She said she has also worked hard to win local school districts a record increase in state aid for education, and grants for local organizations, such as Westbury Neighborhood House, Westbury Little League, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, the Sons of Italy Donatello Lodge and Old Westbury Gardens. She also successfully fought for state funding to help offset the loss of $300,000 which will be incurred annually for 20 years by the Westbury School District as a result of a recently move by BOCES to purchase the Career Education Center on Prospect Avenue, in Westbury. The purchase causes Westbury to lose revenue the district previously gained through a lease agreement. When BOCES was planning a public referendum to approve the purchase, Ferrara noted, she spoke out against the lack of a polling site in Westbury, the only district which would be adversely impacted. "I've been proud to go to bat for the Westbury School District," she said. Through constituent services, she estimates she has helped over 8,000 residents with various problems over the years.

If re-elected, Ferrara wants to "continue to cut taxes," which she said state lawmakers have been able to do using the surplus created by the economic boom of recent years. She said she wants to work on other important projects that are under way, such as the creation of a rainy day fund, which will set aside monies for programs in case the economy takes a downturn. She also wants to work on continuing the STAR program, which provides school property tax relief for homeowners.

Ferrara believes the biggest concerns of constituents center around quality of life - that people want to feel safe in their homes, and that they want the best education system they can afford. She added, "I think that people will want to continue to see their taxes cut."

Some political observers have said the ongoing fiscal crisis in Nassau County, long controlled by Republicans, may cause political backlash against the GOP, and therefore impact this year's state political races. However, Ferrara expressed confidence that voters will recognize the accomplishments of lawmakers at the state level. "I believe the voters in my district can make a differentiation between the different levels of government," she said.

Ferrara first became involved in government as a student at the State University of New York at Albany, when she did an internship in the state Legislature. She describes the experience as the most significant influence in her decision to pursue politics. After receiving her B.A. in English and business as a dean's list student from SUNY Albany, she received her J.D. in 1984 from St. John's University School of Law. She began her political career as a legislative aide for the late Senator Norman Levy in Albany. Upon admission to the New York State Bar, she served as legislative counsel to Senator Kemp Hannon on Long Island. Following that post, she was deputy town attorney for the Town of Hempstead. Ferrara is married and has an 18-month-old daughter.