Tom McKevitt and Kevin Brady vie for assembly seat

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McKevitt: Mandate relief is necessary for all governments to contain costs and comply with the property tax cap. Any new mandates imposed by the State of New York, either by law or regulation that cost a local government more than $10,000 or $1 million aggregate statewide, should be paid for by the State. Aid must also be provided for districts in order to comply with the new Annual Peer Performance Review (APPR). The number of reports that school districts must report to the New York State Department of Education must be reduced so precious resources can be used to help students and not occupy bureaucrats. A state inspector general for the education should be created to assist school districts in investigating any criminal and fraudulent activity.

Brady: Instead of one law I would change, a major local priority is what I would fight against changing. Assemblyman McKevitt told Newsday in our first debate that he would support the State allowing Nassau County to no longer have to pay property tax refunds back to homeowners it over-assessed. That is absolutely unacceptable. I will fight legislators’ attempts to let Nassau off the hook. Not giving back money the government overcharged from honest taxpayers is the same as supporting a property tax increase. Our district — from Uniondale, East Meadow, Levittown, Bethpage, Plainedge, Seaford, Farmingdale, to North Massapequa and Massapequa — is made up almost entirely of single-family homes that were highly over-assessed by the County. We would be some of the most hurt if the State let Nassau off the hook on property tax rebates. On something positive to add to government: The first bill I want to work on passing is a statewide panel to reform New York’s veterans’ support programs — seated with actual veterans and experts, not stocked with political appointees.

Herald: The economy is impacting residents. How would you help create or support locals as they look for jobs and recover from the economic downturn?

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