By Dave Vieser
Healthcare, education top local voter concerns
If a sampling of opinion among voters in the Lynbrook-East Rockaway-Malverne area a week before Election Day is any indication, it's health care and education that will be on their minds when they go the polls. Most voters interviewed by the Herald seemed more focused on national issues as the nation prepares to elect a new President next week.
"The issues are health care and education, primarily. Those are the two main issues. And locally, I think they need to be more on top of traffic control and traffic issues," said Josephine Stravino of Malverne.
Leanora Koehler, who works as an assistant to Lynbrook chiropractor Dr. James Warren agrees. "Healthcare is clearly one of the main issues for the candidates to address this year.I don't think either of the Presidential candidates has addressed it properly."
It's understandable that healthcare would be a major concern, particularly in a year when voters will have the opportunity to select not only national political officials, but also an entire slate of state legislators. Still, the focus on that issue, over Nassau's still muddied fiscal situation, is probably music to the ears of Republicans who feared more voter backlash against the county's mishandling of finances.
"How well they're going to do running the government; that's where my priorities are," responded Helen Ballow of Malverne. "Schools, education, children. I think that's my priority."
Schools and education have always been a top issue in state and national elections, and this year is no exception. State legislative incumbents have been quick to remind voters about the record state aid they have brought back to their districts this year, as well as the STAR school tax discounts. Their opponents, on the other hand, claim that more needs to be done to make the system fairer for all.
"You know what's important to me? Their personality," said Michael Apollo of Lynbrook. "You vote on the image, really. A lot of promises end up broken anyway, so what's the difference? They either build up the debt, or cut it down too much. Image is everything, really."
Elsie Chu was born in the Philippines, and now works in a stationary store on Broadway in Lynbrook. She also places considerable emphasis on personality. "The most important thing to me is the character of the person. The strength of our military is also important. What good is it if you have no safe place to live. Morals and character must come together."
Voters will not only be electing a new President next week; they will select a new US Senator (Clinton vs. Lazio) in one of the nation's most closely watched races; pass judgment on state legislative candidates; and elect representatives to the Hempstead Town Board in newly constituted councilmatic districts.
Still, in the incorporated villages, where Towns have significantly less control over local governmental issues anyway, it is the national races which are dominating roadside conversations. And, perhaps more than any other issue, it's healthcare which dominates most conversations at a time when the country is at peace and the economy remains relatively strong.
Perhaps Gerald Maslon of Malverne summed it up best:
"Senior health... Locally, nationally, internationally, everywhere!"
(Leslie Gonzalez and Harriet Epstein contributed to this story)
Red Light from Green Party
Republican Robert Barra of Lynbrook, assembly candidate in the 21st assembly district, has noted in his campaign literature and public appearances that he has been a strong supporter of the environment and has obtained the Green Party line on this year's ballot. However, officials from the Central Nassau Green Party now claim that he obtained the line through an election law loophole and are urging voters not to elect him on Election Day, November 7.
"We want nothing to do with this candidate," said Maria Kuriloff of Malverne, co-chair of the Central Nassau Green Party. "He got the Green Party Line due to a loophole in the state election law, but he is not an environmentalist and we are urging people not to vote for him."
Ms. Kuriloff, who says most of her time is being occupied coordinating local voter efforts on behalf of Ralph Nader, the Green Party's Presidential candidate, says that the party has filed a formal complaint with the Nassau County Board of Elections.
However, Jim Procopio. special assistant to Democratic Elections Board Commissioner Barbara Patton, says that there was nothing illegal about the way Mr. Barra's line was obtained. "Ironically, it was Mr. Barra's opponent, Alan Bergstein, or his supporters, who petitioned the board and asked for a procedure known as opportunity to ballot in the September primaries", said Mr. Procopio. Since there was no designated Green Party candidate, the procedure was invoked meaning that the individual who received the most write-in votes during September's primary received the Green Party Line. In this case, Mr. Barra received two votes, while none were recorded for Mr. Bergstein, or any other candidate. Therefore, Mr. Barra obtained the additional line on the ballot.
For his part, Mr. Barra makes no apologies in obtaining the additional ballot line. "There was nothing improper or clandestine about this. I am, in fact, very proud of my record on the environment," said Mr. Barra, noting that he has received the endorsement of the New York State League of Conservation Voters. "While I was Town councilman, I was instrumental in saving 40 acres of precious wetlands in Lido Beach from the bulldozers. This complaint is nothing more than sour grapes from the political bosses of the Green Party."
In addition to the Republican and Green Party lines, Mr. Barra's name will also appear on the Right-to-Life and Conservative Party lines. Mr. Bergstein, who was originally nominated by the Independent Party, is also running on the Democratic, Liberal and Working Family Party lines.
The 21st Assembly District covers Valley Stream, Lynbrook, and parts of East Rockaway, Oceanside and Baldwin.
