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Tell Us: 3rd District Race Heating Up?

The race for the 3rd Congressional district has suddenly gotten a lot of attention. Tell us your take.

Over the past few days, the race between incumbent Steve Israel and challenger Stephen Labate has gotten considerable attention.

The opponents in the 3rd Congressional District race were embroiled in a controversy over the short sale of Israel's Dix Hills home.

Labate, R-Deer Park, claimed Israel got special treatment in the short sale. Many commenters have chimed in saying they would not be treated so well by their bank.

A spokeswoman for Israel, D-Dix Hills, called Labate's claims a "cheap political attack" and said the home sale is the result of the six-term congressman's divorce. Patch reported exclusively that the original story in the New York Post quoted an expert who was actually a volunteer in Labate's campaign.

Meanwhile, Labate was endorsed by R-Seaford, who has worked with Israel on many issues. Labate wrote about the endorsement in his blog on Patch.

It gets more interesting: A third-party candidate has emerged, Libertarian Michael McDermott of Riverhead, is on the November ballot and is seeking an invitation to a televised debate scheduled for Oct. 23. We'll have more on this in a developing story later in Patch.

We would like your reasoned opinions on these issues and the race overall. Please tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

Tom Dewick October 11, 2012 at 12:49 pm
I'm voting for Labate. Steve Israel is a Pelosibot. You can thank him when your taxes go through the roof on January 1st.
JOE October 11, 2012 at 12:54 pm
There really should be no question here. Just look at the house of representatives and what they have done in the last two years . The republican majority has focused their priorities on making sure that Obama does not get a second term instead of going to Washington to do what we elected them to do. work for the people not for themselves. No one can deny this as there is a video tape of mitch Mc Connel , one of the leaders in the republican party stating that the republican party should put all of its efforts to making sure that Obama does not get re elected by blocking all legislation that would help Obama get re-elected regardless of the effects on the people . That alone should disgust people to vote for the whole democratic slate .
mary wellbourne October 11, 2012 at 04:45 pm
joe---look at Obamas all 4 years---he had both the House and Senate for his first two years and did nothing to improve the economy.Obama promised economic recovery, debt reduction and transparency and he delivered nothing. I remember presidents as far back as Truman and never heard one of them blame their predecessor for anything.Obama doesn't deliver so he tells everyone what Bush did--He should stop his line of bull and deliver. We must remember that he had no experience and we put him in a position that we thought he could handle. Its a shame that Hillary didn;t get a chance but I cannot ever vote Obama again. To many promises to much rethoric and nothing delivered but more debt. This independent will cast a vote for Romney not because I love his policies but Obama has had his chance and failed miserablly.
runningmike October 11, 2012 at 04:53 pm
Stephan LaBate is a war monger. He favors the Republican backed "MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX" that Dwight Eisenhower WARNED us about! Which means he gets to keep his job as a Lt Colonel in the ARMY Reserve with a likely PROMOTION to "full bird" Colonel, IF he is elected. He is in favor of BIG DEFENSE BUDGETS which will increase the deficit, instead of helping the "little people"
Gone October 11, 2012 at 05:59 pm
Didn’t the Democrats control both the House and the Senate the 1st two years of the Obama presidency??
Nassau Taxpayer October 11, 2012 at 06:35 pm
For a portion thereof, during which Democrats should have steamrolled obstructionist Republicans, instead of trying to work with them in a bi-partisan manner. Won't make that mistake again. Ever.
Pat October 11, 2012 at 06:52 pm
If the short sale/ loan forgiveness on Isreals home did not show his true colors and derail everyone's thoughts of voting for the guy, then this country is truly doomed.
Pat October 11, 2012 at 06:54 pm
I want to see 10 yrs of Isreals tax returns!!!!
Gone October 11, 2012 at 08:25 pm
Pat – just listening to Nassau Taxpayer will confirm all your fears. No matter what happens Nassau Taxpayer’s views will not change.
Laura October 11, 2012 at 08:34 pm
Poor Steve Israel! He is rich Congressman !His wife is judge. The both have expense accounts. They have expensive apartment in Washington. Do you another house ? A apartment in Washington? Are you rich? It may not be illegal for what Israel did. I think on a personal level wrong. He votes for the bill. Would you deny a Congressman Steve Israel reguest ? Not only do we pay his salary, for his house too. Shame on you Steve Israel.
Arthur J caputo October 11, 2012 at 08:43 pm
Many comments are being made about thew democrats having the both houses of congress. So what? The republicans use of the filibuster set records.Now that the republicans have the house they are really BLOCKING Obama's agenda for the recovery of our country.They BLOCKED Obama's job's bill that would have created over a million jobs in the country.Just look at the record. Why do the republicans continue to support the taxpayer subsidies to the rich oil companies at the expense of cutting the people's programs such as Social Security and Medicare Wake up out there and get educated .
Emil Iannaccone October 11, 2012 at 08:51 pm
I'M voting for Labate. Mr Israel is more interested in his own affairs than in the work of the people.
Vincent October 11, 2012 at 09:35 pm
Thor: Nassau Taxpayer who, toeing the Democratic line says Biden won tonights debate because Ryan is a liar.That's right, tonights debate.
Gone October 11, 2012 at 11:43 pm
Vincent - why am I not surprised.
Nassau Taxpayer October 12, 2012 at 12:34 am
Hey, vinnie, didn't you watch it already on your VCR?
You know, the box that has been blinking " 12:00 " since 1994.
NK October 12, 2012 at 12:57 am
I'm voting for Labate. Israel is a Pelosi lapdog. Hearing people complain about the do nothing congress, I laugh. Why? All 3 branches were in democratic control for Obama's first 2 years. What did we get? Reduced deficit? No. A better economy? No. More Jobs? No. Increased energy production? No. We got a 2000+ page Dodd-Frank bill which was poorly written and hasn't been implemented to this point because the CFTC can't figure out how to write the final rules. We got a healthcare bill that an overwhelming majority of American's did not want. That bill is the reason so many Republican's were voted into office (many of which are Tea Party members) to put an end to endless spending and ridiculous bills. The Republicans have offered multiple budgets, none of which have been taken up in the Senate. In fact the Democratic controlled Senate has not passed a budget in any Obama year. And the budget floated by Obama was shot down by every Democrat and Republican.
Will there need to be adults in the room and compromise? Yes. But to tell me the country is moving in the right direction under this administration is a joke. And when you look at the people making many of the poor decisions, it is Obama, Pelosi, Reid and their hand picked puppets like Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Steve Israel that need to go.
runningmike October 12, 2012 at 03:11 am
It was the result of his divorce settlement with his wife. nothing more than that!!
runningmike October 12, 2012 at 03:13 am
it is legal !!! just the result of a divorce settlement with his ex-wife. thats all nothing more.
Nassau Taxpayer October 12, 2012 at 09:26 am
Did Labate sign his Grover Norquist pledge and kiss McConnell's ring yet?
Show your true blue Obstructionist colors!
runningmike October 12, 2012 at 12:21 pm
Didn't Mitch Mc Connel say ... "the only thing we should do as a party is to keep Barack Obama from seeking a second term?" or words to that affect, being obstructionists to every JOB BILL, VETERANS" JOB & TRAINING REHABILITATION bills!!!!!
iiiPercenter October 12, 2012 at 02:21 pm
Labate is nothing more than a walking GOP talking point. I'm voting for the only real choice here. Michael McDermott!
runningmike October 12, 2012 at 11:52 pm
Who is Michael McDemott?
Jason Molinet (Editor) October 13, 2012 at 02:17 pm
More on Libertarian candidate Michael McDermott http://patch.com/A-y7B0
Joel October 16, 2012 at 01:58 pm
The 3rd Congressional district has shifted from a north - south shaped area to being east- west. Therefore there are a great many residents who will have a different representative even if an incumbant is victorious beginning in January. Why is Steve Israel not going to campaigning events? He has not appeared at anything particularly the "meet the Candidates" event held by the Hicksville Community Council on Oct 4th. He was invited in July with the date and details but made no effort within his schedule to attend. Hicksville has been represented for many years by Peter King who made sure to attend at least some events. The residents of Hicksville who are active in the community are insulted by this non-caring by Israel. Upoon further reflection, Israel has not appeared at many events in other parts of the district that he has represented for a long time. This leads me to believe that he is hiding because of his personal issues ie. the short sale of his home. Usually a House member with such seniority is beneficial to his district, but in this case I have begun to wonder if that remains to be so. If nothing else, Labate hes gotten around the district demonstrating that he cares.
Arthur J caputo February 15, 2013 at 01:58 pm
Yeah, bring back Bush and the republicans ,they did a fine job the last time they were in power LOL Anything the democrats do is better then having a republican plundering our treasury again. Sadly, the most ignorant among us ,the republican supporters , enabled them to steal .

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George June 7, 2013 at 07:50 am
yes, found out the hard way at one of these traps in Hicksville.
Frank Oltep June 7, 2013 at 11:30 am
The definition of STOP in the driving world is " the complete cessation of movement".Read More Sound like many people think STOP signs mean 1. Slow To Observe Police or 2. Slightly Touch On (brake) pedal. Time to go to traffic school online at www.oltep.com. Relearn what you forgot from Driver's Ed. Stay Safe
A June 7, 2013 at 11:52 pm
Stop means stop. Just like stop signs, where it seems like the local definition is to slow down toRead More 30 mph. You STOP, and look. Then go. I have seen kids having a tough time crossing Jamaica Ave because of this twisted definition of STOP. If anything, this is a good way to relearn what should of been taught in drivers ed. When I moved to Plainview, people at a stop sign would signal the driver that got there first to go. Now it's a race to the stop sign and fly by it to avoid having the other guy go first.