Civics Leaders Hopeful About Mid-Term Elections

While many are anxiously awaiting the results of the 2010 mid-term elections, some are saying that although this is not a year for local races, this election will still have consequences for our area.

"The impact on the local community is not direct.  It's indirect from taxation and spending — and what I see going on in Washington is a debt mentality," said John Zuccarelli, a member of the Hampton Bays Civic Association and a community leader.  

Many local residents have praised Congressman Timothy Bishop for securing federal funds to dredge Shinnecock Inlet, an $8 million earmark that helped allow easier access for boaters in our area. The funding was secured with money set aside in the stimulus package.

Zuccarelli said he is grateful for the funding to dredge the inlet but he challenges the way in which is was acquired. "He did it as an earmark when he could have done it in a straight up and down vote," he said of Bishop.

According to Zuccarelli, not enough is being done in Congress to encourage and support local business, which he insists is the best economic stimulator. He says that spending and tax increases are not the way to drive the economy. "One way is to raise taxes," he said. "The better way is to increase business. And that's what Washington has failed to do. They have taxed the future irresponsibly. The goal is relevant spending."

Not many local civic leaders wanted to speak about the elections themselves, but rather about the climate of politics in general.

Ed Walter, acting chair of the Hampton Bays Citizens Advisory Committee, said that the political climate has become contentious in recent years. "I hope at the end of the day everything calms down on the national and local levels and people become more civil," he said. "What's happening now is, I think politics has become very adversarial. Right now in our country we need leadership. We don't need people bashing each other.  I just hope that we have a calmer situation and people working with each other on all levels. I strongly believe that people just have to work together."

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 2.  The polls will be open from 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.