Who will face Kemp Hannon?

In Tuesday’s primary, two Democratic candidates are seeking the chance to challenge longtime Republican Sen. Kemp Hannon on Election Day in November.

The Nassau County Democratic Party gave the nod to Dave Mejias, a former county legislator from Farmingdale. He faces Francesca Carlow, a Plainview business leader who is running for political office for the first time.

Mejias served three terms in the county Legislature, until he lost to Republican Joseph Belisi last November.

Carlow, of Plainview, was the president of the Plainview Chamber of Commerce for seven years and is currently vice president of the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce.

Though Mejias was arrested on Sept. 1 and charged with stalking an ex-girlfriend, he insisted he would be exonerated. At press time, he remained in the primary.

Both Mejias and Carlow met with the Herald’s editorial staff in the days leading up to the primary. They were asked about a variety of state issues, including the government’s fiscal problems, the upcoming redistricting process and taxes.

Dave Mejias

To Mejias’s way of thinking, the state’s fiscal and governing failures are a result of many poor decisions and flawed processes. He noted that, unlike other states, New York does not formulate long-term budget and capital plans. He also blames the thousands of authorities across the state, as well as Medicaid fraud and abuse, and tax evaders.

“The government is so broken and there are so many things wrong with state government that it’s not about what one thing you can do,” Mejias said.

He said that New York’s campaign financing laws need to be reformed, and that politicians take campaign funds for personal use. He compared the system to the Wild West.

As for redistricting state government, set to occur in the next Legislative term, Mejias said it needs to become an independent, non-partisan process. “These guys draw lines to win re-election every year,” he said. “This is really a threat to our democracy.”