Community Corner

Tim Bishop: 'I'm Dedicated To Improving The Lives Of The People Of My District'

Bishop is running for U.S. Representative on Election Day, Nov. 4.

Democrat Tim Bishop is running for U.S. Representative in New York’s First Congressional District. His opponent is Republican Lee Zeldin.

Congressional District 1 includes: Central and Eastern Suffolk County, including most of Smithtown, Selden, Centereach, Lake Grove, Mastic, Shirley, Riverhead, Mattituck, Jamesport, North Fork as well as the entirety of the towns of Brookhaven, Riverhead, Southold, Southampton, East Hampton and Shelter Island. View a map of Congressional District 1 here.

Submitted by Tim Bishop:

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I’m running for reelection to Congress because I’m dedicated to improving the lives of the people of my district. In particular, in an era where ideology too often trumps practicality, I’ve consistently put aside partisanship for common-sense solutions that help everyday Long Islanders.

Last month, an AP article highlighted my ā€œlaser-like focusā€ on serving my constituents. I take this as the highest praise I can receive. Over the past 12 years, my staff and I have helped solve over 17,000 constituent cases—helping Long Islanders cut through the red tape to get their Social Security, Medicare, and veterans benefits. It shows the profound impact a member of Congress can have on the community.

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We need problem solvers in Washington. Men and women willing to reach across the aisle, compromise, and come to solutions that get things done. This past year, I was one of four coauthors in the House—two Republicans and two Democrats—of the Water Resources Development Act, legislation that invests in our nation’s water infrastructure and creates thousands of good-paying jobs. This is the kind of positive result cooperation and collegiality can produce.

When President Bill Clinton came to Stony Brook University to rally for my reelection, he told the crowd, ā€œHe is a great congressman, in the old fashioned sense of the word. He realizes that every day, no matter what’s being voted on in Congress, he could make something good happen for the people of this district.ā€ To me that statement captured perfectly what I’ve done as your congressman and what I will continue to bring to the table: hard work and a focus on improving the lives of my constituents.

I ask for your vote on November 4.

Candidates for political office are encouraged to send letters to the editor, and a photo, explaining why they believe voters should elect them. Email photo and letter to priscila.korb@patch.com

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