Two Incumbents Look To Thwart Upsets

Congressman Gary Ackerman is a familiar face not only in his district in northeast Queens, but all over the borough, and he hopes to keep it that way.
Ackerman is one of a number of incumbents running for re-election on November 2. He has been in the House of Representatives in the Fifth District for more than 20 years. His opponents, Stephen Graves, a conservative Republican, and Gonzalo Policarpio, a moderate independent defeated by Graves in the Republican primary, will have an uphill battle defeating the Democratic incumbent in a district that almost always leans left.
"The two competitors are out of touch with the people in this district," said Ackerman. He contrasted himself with the other two candidates on issues he supports and claims they oppose, like gun control, a womans right to an abortion and universal health care coverage. He also asserts that his record in the House reflects the priorities of seniors, like preserving Social Security, Medicare and prescription drug coverage.
Policarpio defended his moderate positions on most issues as more representative of District 5 voter concerns. "Im running against two extremists," said Policarpio, a Filipino immigrant who favors prayer in school and the protection of immigrant rights. "Im in the middle."
High taxes are the Graves campaign battle cry. "I have yet to find a tax he wasnt willing to increase," said Graves of Ackermans record. Graves, a small business owner, supports lower, flatter taxes, including eliminating the so-called "marriage penalty," the estate tax, and capital gains taxes along with other conservative causes like teaching moralitymeaning curriculums supportive of heterosexual marriagein public schools.
Despite overwhelming odds against themAckerman won 93 percent of the vote in the last electionthe Graves and Policarpio campaigns seem unfazed. "I feel energized," said Policarpio. "I think its a blessing in disguise."
Another race will also be decided on Election Day in northeast Queens as the Democratic incumbent, Ann Margaret Carrozza, defends her seat in the State Assembly against Peter Boudouvas, a Republican. Carrozza has represented the neighborhoods of East Flushing, Bayside, Douglaston, Little Neck, Whitestone, Malba, Bay Terrace and Floral Park in the Assembly since 1996.
Carrozza says she is an advocate of more funding for public education to reduce class sizes in struggling schools, maintaining classes for students with disabilities and expanding offerings for students who speak English as a second language. She also sponsored legislation to help retired doctors provide care for low-income patients, to reinforce child support laws, and to defend the rights of senior citizens.
Boudouvas is running an aggressive campaign aimed at Carrozzas record of absences in Assembly votes.
On Tuesday, the voters will decide if they are satisfied with the level of service they have received not only from their President, but also from their local representatives.
E-mail this reporter at sarah@queenscourier.com .