Bishop for Congress

One is predisposed to like State Senator Lee Zeldin, an affable Army veteran who is seeking for the second time to take Representative Tim Bishop’s seat in Congress. However, even though he ran for the First District post in 2008, won a seat in the New York Legislature in 2010, and then beat back a Republican primary challenge this year, Mr. Zeldin has very little to say for himself, which is perplexing. Instead of presenting his own ideas he repeats party positions on school vouchers, weak gun laws, and the eventual privatization of Social Security. In short, we have been disappointed in him as a candidate and sorry that the voters did not have a contest of more depth and nuance this time around.

Mr. Bishop, on the other hand, is a proven master of detail. Though in the House minority, he has been effective in responding to concerns in his home district and has consistently earned top marks from environmental groups. He is a strong supporter of the Affordable Care Act, immigration reform, and women’s rights.

As a member of Congress representing a district as threatened as any in the entire country by sea-level rise, we would have liked Mr. Bishop to take a much more active role in the bully pulpit on climate change and coastal policy, particularly considering his post as ranking member of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment. Nevertheless, he is by far the better choice and has again earned our endorsement.