The last time Democrat Marge Markey faced a challenge for her Assembly seat, the Internet had yet to become a must-have campaign tool for candidates.
For Markey, it still isn't.
The five-term incumbent is facing her first Election Day competition since 1998, from newcomer Tony Nunziato, a small-business owner and community leader.
Markey, 66, is running an old-school race, with no campaign Web site and no attempt to secure the Working Families Party line on the ballot.
Nunziato, 51, a Republican, is courting immigrant groups - Poles, Pakistanis and Hispanics - with ads in local newspapers.
Markey, who has represented Maspeth, Woodside and parts of Sunnyside for a decade, said she's running on her record.
"I have a lot of blue-collar workers in my district who may lose their jobs," she said. "I'm going to do my best to see that it doesn't happen."
Most Democrats nowadays are cross-endorsed by the Working Families Party, but Markey chose not to apply for the party line on the ballot.
"You can only be loyal to one party at a time," Markey said.
Nunziato, by contrast, is on three ballot lines - GOP, Conservative and Independence.
Nunziato said he isn't fazed by the voter registration figures that greatly favor Democrats. He said he is campaigning as an independent voice for the community.
"We're in a fiscal crisis right now," said Nunziato, who owns a florist shop on Grand Ave. in Maspeth and is active in local civic groups. "Nobody knows better about how to make ends meet than a small businessman."
This election marks a departure for local GOP leaders, who in the past did not actively run campaigns against incumbent Democrats in Queens.
"A one-party system is absolutely ridiculous," said Phil Ragusa of the Queens Republican Party. "We want to bring some balance to the state Assembly."
"Tony has put his business on hold while he runs for Assembly," he said. "He's committed."
Both candidates were invited to a debate at the Juniper Park Civic Association, but Nunziato said his opponent has refused to debate him in public.
Markey said the debate wouldn't have been a fair fight.
"That civic group has already endorsed him, and it would be futile to debate there," she said.
