Thursday, October 1, 2026
League of Women Voters of East Nassau candidates’ forum turned raucous at times at the North Merrick Public Library on Oct. 8.
Candidates tackled an array of issues, from property taxes to term limits, but the one that sparked the most urgent questions was Long Island’s growing heroin crisis.
The first part of the forum was for County Legislature candidates, and included Claudia Borecky, a Democrat from North Merrick who is challenging Legislator Steven Rhoads, a Republican from Bellmore, for the 19th District seat. Rhoads was absent during the forum’s first hour because he had to attend a county budget meeting.
Also on hand was Eileen Napolitano, a Democrat from East Meadow, who is challenging Legislator Norma Gonsalves, a Republican from East Meadow, for the 13th District seat. Gonsalves, who attended the same budget meeting as Rhoads, did not attend the forum.
Borecky, who is president of the North and Central Merrick Civic Association, said that Nassau needs a greater police presence to combat the heroin epidemic. “Members of the police force attend many of our civic meetings,” she said. “We discuss reinstating closed police divisions, and we’re actively placing a Neighborhood Watch program where one or more police members will partake in.”
