Bishop Running for Re-election, Speaks in FIP
Volume 48, Issue 9
By Nicole Pressly

On Saturday, July 31, the Fire Island Pines Property Owners Association PAC sponsored Tim Bishop, 1st Congressional District, New York to a talk at the beautiful bay-front home of Brandon Fradd.
Bishop, a resident of Southhampton and former provost of Southhampton College, represents eastern parts of Long Island which include the east end of Fire Island.
“He is an inspiration. We have to have more politicians in Congress to fight this devastating administration,” said supporter and Pines resident Mark Tafoya.
A staunch supporter of family and equality, Bishop co-sponsored legislation granting rights to domestic partners, including family and medical leave and tax equity for health insurance benefits.
Another important priority of Bishop’s record is the environment. He earned a 100% perfect score from the National League of Conservation voters. For Fire Island this translates into his work on the powerful Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to restore funding for the the Fire Island to Montauk Point Study for coastal protection.
Other environmental legislation include the introduction of a bill to ban dumping contaminated dredge waste in the Sound; introduction of clean water legislation knwn as the Raw Sewage Community Right-to-Know Act; as well as securing funds for the Peconic Estuary Program. He has been at the forefront of trying to restore many of the over 200 environmental programs that the current administration has been slashing including the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and the continuation of the ban on using humans for the testing of pesticides.
This August 5, Bishop secured a $52,000 grant for Davis Park Fire District as part of his fight to ensure the Department. of Homeland Security’s Office of Domestic Preparedness funding, which the Bush administration has attempted to underfund by $250 million. Davis Park intends the use the money to purchase self-contained bereathing apparatus to assist first -responders in doing their jobs.
Davis Park fought two major fires this season.
“There is a great need for this equipment,” said George Kulman, Fire Commissioner and firefighter with David Park Fire District.
“Before I was not so political—and these last few years have changed me. It is like Germany in the early ‘30s. They are quietly taking over our civil rights and dividing us. Making us live in fear,” said Brandon Fradd.

FL Congressional Candidate Jim Stork Visits Pines
Volume 48, Issue 9
By Tim Steffen

On Tuesday, July 27, Florida Democrat Jim Stork was one of 170 people who spoke at the Democratic national convention. In his speech he stated that he wants to “return America to the strong, vibrant country we once knew. Everywhere I go, people have been making it clear to me that they’re not happy. They miss the hope and optimism that once united us as Americans.”
Florida Democrat Jim Stork is a small-business owner running for Congress in the upcoming election. An openly gay former Wilton Manors, Florida mayor, Stork is an energetic and passionate 37-year old man who visited the Pines July 31 to spread his message to residents. Many of the attendees reside in Ft. Lauderdale where Stork is running in one of the most competitive races in the country against his 12th-term incumbent, Rep E. Clay Shaw, Jr. It’s shaping up to be a true battle.
Bill Hayden and Ron Perkov hosted the fund-raising party for Stork at their home on Bay Walk. While people mingled, Stork spoke with individuals about the issues he’s fighting for and why he’s running for office.
Stork is the successful owner of two cafés in the Ft. Lauderdale area. He entered the race in March and has raised $500,000 so far, receiving donations from Massachusetts lawmakers such as Edward Kennedy and Barney Frank, as well as Washington politicians, including Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California.
“We’ve already had over 10,000 individual donations from around the country,” Stork said, “and that’s because they realize that Congress is blocking progress right now.” Stork feels that the only way to defeat someone funded by special interest groups, like Shaw, is through a national network.
“We’re one of the top 5 races in the country,” he stated. “It’s a democratic leaning county.” Ft. Lauderdale is the 22nd district, in which voters sided with Al Gore instead of George W. Bush in 2000 by a margin of 51 percent to 46 percent.
“After 24 years you start losing touch with the people. I mean, he voted against the independent commission on Sept. 11, “ said Stork to the more than 100 people at the party.
Stork went on to explain that Shaw votes with the president 100% of the time. “I don’t know any president who’s right 100% of the time,” Stork laughed. “[Shaw] has to be held accountable for those votes with Bush. He voted for tax cuts for people who make over $1million and against the Independent Commission on 9/11.” Stork is also adamant that Shaw must be held accountable for his education policy, social security policy, and his plan to privatize health care, a plan that Stork says will cost $2 trillion over the next few years.
Many times during the campaign, Stork’s homosexuality has been discussed. His response: “I don’t need to talk about my sexual orientation as an issue. The only orientation I need to talk about is why Clay Shaw votes with President Bush and is proud of it.”
Dino Georgiou moved to Florida five years ago, met Jim at his bakery, and was impressed with him. When he ran for mayor Georgiou supported him and worked on the campaign. “He’s kind and caring and interested in issues of the aging,” he noted. “He’s very concerned with agendas that will help older people.”
So much so that when Georgiou and another man started the world’s first gay and lesbian senior day care center six months ago, Stork guided them through the whole process. “We support him because he supported us,” Georgiou said firmly.
“The last time Jim took a day off was the first week in April,” said Stork’s partner, Ronald Ansin, former Massachusetts Commissioner of Commerce and Development, when John Kerry was Lt. Governor under Michael Dukakis. “He’s worked constantly since then.”
The couple has been together for two years. Ansin seems to be enjoying the time spent with Stork on the many trips along the campaign trail. “It’s a historic race,” he said.
Pines resident and Treasurer of the Democratic National Committee, Andrew Tobias, would also agree about Stork’s tireless determination. He recently returned from the democratic convention where Stork spoke. “It was a terrific speech,” said Tobias. “We’ve been trying to beat Clay Shaw for a long time. [Stork] brings vitality, determination, and diversity to the race. It’s time.”
“This is a very important election for us,” said co-host Billy Hayden as he introduced Stork. Hayden mentioned what the strategists running Kerry’s campaign told him: “If [Stork] wins in Florida, we win Florida. If we win Florida we win the presidency. We need a guy like Jim Stork and this next administration.”
Stork stated that his issues were common sense policies, including economic and fiscal ones. He talked about going back to what the Clinton years were. “That philosophy got us 8 years of great economic growth.”
Other issues include universal healthcare and lower premiums, repealing Bush’s tax cuts to millionaires to provide for home security needs, and a commitment to providing equal access to college educations for all Americans.
Stork was very thankful to those who have helped him along the way. He was especially thankful to those activists and leaders who fought for gay rights and had paved the way for him to be there. “I followed the American dream without fear of sexuality,” Stork said. “You taught me about safe sex in the 1980s which probably saved my life. You allowed me to serve as mayor and right now have funded me and Senator Kerry to make a difference in this campaign and election.”
Stork emphasized that the gay community now had the unique opportunity to show how powerful it is across the country. “It’s our time to show that we are a part of this country,” he said. “We should be proud of how far we’ve come. We can show that we love this country, too, that we care about the war in Iraq, education and the economy like everyone else.”