Election 2015

Rhoads, Borecky vie for 19th District seat

Posted

Claudia Borecky, a Nassau County Board of Elections worker and president of the North and Central Merrick Civic Association, is challenging Nassau County Legislator Steve Rhoads for the 19th District seat this November.

Borecky is chairwoman of the Bellmore-Merrick Democratic Club and a former aide to Legislator David Denenberg, who pleaded guilty to eight counts of mail fraud and is now in prison in New Jersey. Rhoads, a personal injury attorney and volunteer firefighter who has long been active in local Republican circles, won a special election in March.

The 19th District, which encompasses Freeport, Merrick, Bellmore, Wantagh and Seaford, had been without a legislator since January, when Denenberg, a 14-year incumbent, resigned after admitting to cheating a law client out of $2.3 million. Borecky was Denenberg’s aide from 2006-08. Rhoads lost election bids to Denenberg in 2005 and 2013.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

The Herald asked the candidates a series of questions to help readers better understand their positions on the issues:

1.Candidates for Nassau County Legislature have, for many years, not only spoken of the need to control property taxes but also to lower them. The Mangano administration had, for some time, been able to balance the budget through cuts and loans. Over the past two years, however, he has had to raise property taxes to meet expenses. With sales taxes dropping, according to the county executive, how, specifically, could the county freeze or lower property taxes?

Borecky: We are among the highest-taxed counties in the country. For the second straight year, the county is hiking taxes on our already overtaxed homeowners and businesses. The operating budget includes $10 million to pay for tax refunds, yet raises our taxes by $12 million. It’s imposing a 10 percent business tax on already overtaxed commercial properties, further exacerbating the high cost of doing business. People are smart. They see through this shell game.

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