Often on Election Day, the voters’ choice boils down to which of the two candidates is the least objectionable. Fortunately, Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights and Bensonhurst voters have a chance to cast their ballots for a worthy candidate for Congress on Tuesday, Nov. 4: Councilman Mike McMahon.
During his eight years on the Council, McMahon has been an amiable aisle-crosser, a Democrat who has served more-conservative Staten Island and shown leadership on issues like solid waste, ferry service, and requiring the city to always have a nurse on duty in every school.
Usually, we don’t take much stock in a candidates’ endorsements, but McMahon’s list is so broad — it includes Conservative Staten Island Borough President Jim Molinaro, Republican Mayor Mike Bloomberg, and Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton — that voters can be confident that McMahon will move the district beyond the petty partisan politics during 26 years that the seat has been in Republican control.
McMahon’s main opponent, former Assemblyman Robert Straniere, is so far outside the mainstream that his own Republican party ex-communicated him several years ago.
We disagree with Straniere’s belief that prosperity will automatically rain down on all Americans if taxes are slashed on the wealthy. And we certainly cannot abide his staunch anti-abortion position — which would deny women the right to make that choice even in the case of rape or incest.
That puts Strainer far out of step with the constituents he hopes to represent.
Clearly, with his overall competence, solid judgment and his support for mainstream Democratic positions, Mike McMahon is the better candidate.
We proudly endorse him for Congress.
