Janet L. Heller-Smitelli knows her district and its residents' issues. The 54-year-old Republican from South Huntington has an admirable passion for public service and a future in elective office. Alas, that future is not now.

Her opponent, Louis D'Amaro, 54, of Deer Park, is running for his sixth and final term. A Democrat, he has a solid record of accomplishment and a list of laudable policy goals he still wants to achieve -- developing downtowns as economic engines; creating affordable housing; attacking the heroin epidemic from the angles of policing, education, prevention and treatment; and protecting the environment by expanding sewers.

D'Amaro also knows the county still does not have its finances in order. And he recognizes that, in an...| read more ››