Thomas Jefferson—statesman, farmer, architect—is a true Renaissance man in Lindsay Henry’s eyes, and many would say that Henry himself is Babylon’s own Renaissance man. The country lawyer who drives a pick up truck and has dabbled in dozens of trades—carpentry, welding, roofing to name a few— is eager to prove his abilities as a Babylon Town Councilman.

"I would be an excellent representative of the people in the town, because I know what people around here do," said Henry. "I come from a hard-working middle class American family, and that bonds me to the people I represent."

Henry says he literally fished his way through college and law school, working on local waters as a commercial fisherman and merchant mariner. Two years into his attendance at Touro Law School he had to interrupt his studies to earn more money by fishing for a year off Long Island’s distant waters. "I know the meaning of a hard day’s work, and I can bring this to town government," he added.

With a great respect for the bay and the beach, Henry said the recent attempt to develop the beach front with condominiums motivated him to get involved politically.

Henry, born and raised in Babylon Village, grew up with the legal profession around the dinner table. He now lives in the Village with his wife Donna in an old home he enjoys renovating not far from the bay he loves.

His father Patrick Henry served as Suffolk County District Attorney and his grandfather, a sea captain, also served as a district attorney for a time. Henry is now employed in the West Islip law firm of Lite and Russell. "I love the practice of law and the law’s ability to allow me to help people in the community," he said.

For a time, February 2000 to April 2001, Henry served as Babylon Village’s acting justice, but had to step down after announcing his candidacy for the Babylon Town Board. "I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the bench, serving my community...," he said.

Henry believes voters want candidates with integrity, because "they’ve had it with scandal." Candidates who possess integrity will rebuild voter confidence, he says.

Where will he be on Election Day? He might be in Wyandanch helping to build a Habitat for Humanity house. It’s one of the many organizations to which he belongs. Others are the Babylon Rotary, Babylon Hibernians, Babylon Village Historical Society, and trustee of the Babylon Cemetery Association. "I can’t wait to get on that house’s roof," he said.

Ed McCabe, R, RTL

Politics and law are in his blood, says Edward McCabe, whose father is a Nassau County Justice. McCabe credits his father for the direction he gave him and the belief that "if you work hard for something, you can get there."

Attracted to politics at an early age, McCabe, who seeks election to the Babylon Town Board, volunteered to work on different local campaigns. After earning his undergraduate degree in business administration from Fordham University, he entered Hofstra Law School, graduating in 1989. A seven and a half-year stint at the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office followed —a job McCabe says he "absolutely loved." A position in the New York State Attorney General’s office in Hauppauge was next. He’s now with the law firm of Certilman Balin Adler and Hyman located in East Meadow with a second office in Hauppauge. McCabe specializes in commercial litigation.

McCabe, who lives in North Babylon with his Jennifer and children Elizabeth and Edward Patrick is an attorney. His wife is the sister of Lindsay Henry and daughter of former Suffolk District Attorney Patrick Henry. He spends his free time these days knocking on residents’ doors. "The experience has been better than I expected," said McCabe. "I thought I would encounter more negativity. Except for a few incidences, that hasn’t happened."

Instead, McCabe says he has gotten to know a lot of people and believes that if politicians spend time to go to people to explain why something is important, we can get people to vote. "The image I project is one of honesty and dedication," said McCabe. "People know that when they speak to me, I speak the truth."

His political heroes include Ronald Reagan, because "he exemplified strength at a time when our country needed it," and John F. Kennedy, because "he projected hope for the future."

And that’s just what McCabe wants to instill—hope for the future of Babylon Township