COMMON SENSE: Week of March 15

The Brooklyn Conservative Party has endorsed Wendy Long for United States Senate and will be casting its many State Committee votes for her at the party’s convention that will be held this Monday at the New York Athletic Club.

Wendy — who spoke at the Brooklyn Conservative Party’s annual brunch — is a Yale-educated attorney who clerked for the U.S. Supreme Court. She helped found and was general counsel to a nationwide group dedicated to supporting conservative federal judicial nominees and opposing liberal ones. The mother of three, she is active in a number of New York City educational, charitable and civic causes.

Wendy Long has already crisscrossed the state articulating her concern that New York needs a U.S. senator who will take a lead in advocating for pro-growth economic policies and an America that commands international respect. She has been highly critical of incumbent U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, arguing that the senator is little more than a rubber stamp for President Obama.

Those who meet or hear Wendy Long come away describing her as smart, articulate and focused. Unlike many candidates for public office, she knows exactly why she is running and what she hopes to accomplish beyond the obvious of winning the election.

This makes her a serious challenger to Gillibrand who has not yet, in my opinion, been fully tested. And mark my words — a Wendy Long vs. Kirsten Gillibrand debate will not put you to sleep. A Wendy Long-Kirsten Gillibrand match-up is just the type of race that could easily receive national attention.

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The special election for State Senate in the 27th SD which is comprised of Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach, Mill Basin, Bergen Beach, parts of Borough Park, Gravesend and Marine Park will be next Tuesday, March 20. The race pits Republican-Conservative attorney and civic activist David Storobin against Democrat City Councilmember Lew Fidler.

Many political observers consider the race very close with turnout being key. Storobin has run a spirited effort punctuated by an enormous volunteer base that has taken the campaign to everything from the Coney Island Boardwalk to house canvassing and even churches on Sunday.

Councilmember Fidler’s efforts have been somewhat curtailed due to a lengthy illness that had kept him sidelined in the hospital for a significant part of the campaign. In fact, he needed to cancel all debate appearances.

In the end, the race will come down to issues and the get-out-the-vote pull. Storobin is an issue-oriented conservative while Fidler is proud of his liberal roots. Historically, in Brooklyn, that would have put Storobin at a disadvantage. But times have changed, and in this district many more voters identify themselves as conservative as opposed to liberal.

So it really will come down to who comes out and votes in an election that would normally have a low turnout.

Democracy works best when election turnout is high. If you live in this district, please come out and vote next Tuesday, March 20. The polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and you vote at your usually voting site.