Listening to what the candidates have to say

Exchanging political views at League of Women Voters forum at the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library

Posted

Twenty-two days before Election Day, Nov. 8, a half dozen candidates from three political races spoke on several issues at the forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Southwest Nassau that took place at the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library in Hewlett on Oct. 19.

In the race for state senate, incumbent State Sen. Todd Kaminsky (D-Long Beach) and Green Party candidate Laurence S. Hirsh, a North Woodmere resident, traded views for the first 30 minutes as Kaminsky left early for a meeting in Valley Steam. Republican candidate Chris McGrath didn’t attend the forum.

Hirsh claimed to be the only “incorruptible candidate” in the senate race as the Green Party isn’t beholden to large donors and big business who donate large sums of money. When discussing the possible privatization of public facilities such as the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant in East Rockaway, Kaminsky said he takes a dim view of such acquisitions.


“We have to be careful with privatization, it is a possible access to corruption because of sweetheart deals,” Kaminsky said. “We need real oversight, discussion of the bid and transparency.”

Both said that electoral reform is needed. Hirsh wants to see the elimination of cross endorsements, says term limits are needed and is in favor of 100 percent publicly-financed political campaigns, along with making the state legislator position full-time, with a corresponding raise in pay. Kaminsky believes pension forfeiture is a deterrent and would discuss term limits.

Based on the forum’s rules when Kaminsky left, Hirsh was dismissed from the panel as well.

Anthony Eramo, the Democratic Long Beach city councilman and Green Party candidate Joseph Naham, are running for the Assembly in the 20th A.D. Republican nominee Melissa “Missy” Miller did not attend. Incumbent Assemblyman Brian Curran (R-Lynbrook) and Democratic challenger Travis Bourgeois are battling in the 21st A.D.

“I support publicly-financed elections, stripping pensions and closing the LLC loophole,” Eramo said, about the law that allows companies to donate to the same candidate under different business names.
“We need to eradicate having political bosses has elected or appointed officials,” Naham said.

Curran, who said it’s been a “disappointing” time in Albany since he took office nearly four years ago, said he supports term limits, a four- or six-year term. “People in each house are there way to long and have too much power,” he said.

There was a healthy discussion on the environment. Naham said, “We have to think differently about sewage waster and treat like a resource, not just waste.” “We have to stop using fossil fuels and invest in other energy sources such as geothermal, solar and wind,” Eramo said.

On combating drug use, Bourgeois said he understood the issue due to a friend’s problem. “We have to treat the user not like a criminal and go after the drug dealer,” he said. Curran noted that state legislation was passed earlier this year to battle the heroin and opioid epidemic.

“Candidate forums and local government issues are the core of making democracy work for all,” said Nancy Rosenthal, president of the LWV of Nassau County and Southwest Nassau.