State Assembly

Melissa A. Walton is the surprise of the local election this year. Those who knew her before she stepped up to bat against one of the most popular legislators to come out of the East End since former State Assemblyman John Behan didn't prepare the public for what was in store.

Here is a woman who is tough, idealistic, calm under pressure, and extremely articulate. The alacrity with which she has become well informed on state and local issues is impressive. A single mother, she has moved out of welfare and up the educational ladder to become a pre-law student and candidate with ideals that have translated into well-reasoned policy statements. As a resident of the Shinnecock Reservation, she knows very well how to recognize when government helps or hurts its citizens in need.

On the other hand, the incumbent State Assemblyman, Fred W. Thiele Jr., has given voters many strong reasons to support him. He is in close touch with his constituents and has been a bipartisan leader for such East End objectives as the preservation of open space and farmland and self-determination through the formation of Peconic County. He has worked to tighten the budgetary belt and for reforming government in a reasonable manner, and has stayed the course as an effective, dedicated, and sincere public servant.

Although Ms. Walton has little chance of scoring big this time, she has made her mark. She should be encouraged to run for office again in the near future. Whether this is feasible or not, however, we expect that she will find a way to right some of the wrongs she has so knowingly identified.

If we have given short shrift to the other two candidates in the race, Peggy Eckart and Michael J. Bradley, it is because we find their focus too narrow, because both oppose abortion rights (Mrs. Eckart with some exceptions), and because neither seems to understand the cultural and philosophical divide that underlies the drive for Peconic County. A story explaining the Peconic proposal on Tuesday's ballot - which we urge you to support - appears in this issue.