By:LARRY MAIER
On Tuesday, Nov. 6 registered voters will head to the polls to determine who will serve in a number of important Nassau County and Town of Hempstead elected offices.
County races seem particularly important this year. With the county in the midst its worst fiscal crisis in history, the nation sliding into recession, and the effects of the Sept. 11 attacks still taking their toll on everything from sales tax receipts to social services, the next county executive has his work cut out for him. If he or his partners in the county legislature falter, the state-created Nassau Interim Finance Authority stands ready to step in and take over Nassau's finances.
The race for Nassau County Executive pits Republican Bruce Bent, a 64-year-old businessman from Plandome, against Democrat Tom Suozzi, the 39-year-old Mayor of Glen Cove. The current county executive, Thomas Gulotta (R-Merrick) is not running for re-election.
The job of the county executive is to propose and manage the county's budget and oversee county agencies and services. The county executive serves a four-year term.
Both candidates say they want to change the way the county functions. Both claim they are better prepared than their opponents to turn the county around.
[Mr. Suozzi took advantage of the Herald's offer, made to both candidates, to address our readers directly in a column, which appears in this edition of the Herald. Mr. Bent was a no-showboth with his column and for his interview with the Herald editorial board.]
Other countywide offices that will be determined on Nov. 6 include District Attorney, Comptroller, and Clerk. The Herald's endorsements in countywide races appear in this issue.
Two seats on the New York State Supreme Court, County of Nassau, are being decided next Tuesday. There is also a race for District Court Judge, which pits incumbent Susan Kluewer (D-Rockville Centre) against former judge Denise Sher (R-Hewlett).
The race for County Legislature
The entire Nassau County Legislature is also up for grabs in this year's election. Nassau is divided into 19 separate districts and each district elects a legislator to a two-year term. The Legislature is responsible for writing and passing county laws as well as reviewing and approving the county's budget. Currently, Democrats hold a 10-9 majority on the Legislature, an advantage they won during the 1999 elections.
The legislature, too, will face many tough fiscal decisions in the next two years, including approving budgets that are likely to call for significant tax increases while cutting county services. The county executive has the power to veto legislative acts, but should either party capture 13 of the 19 seats, it would have a veto-proof majority.
[Brief profiles of the candidates in local legislative races, provided by the county's League of Women Voters, accompany this story. A list of the Herald's endorsements in legislative races appears on the editorial pages.]
Republicans appear
dominant in Town Races
The race for Town of Hempstead Supervisor is between incumbent Richard Guardino (R-Point Lookout), who is running for his third two-year term, and Kevin Gorman (D-Wantagh).
Much like the county executive, the job of town supervisor is to propose and manage the town's budget and oversee agencies and the administration of services. The supervisor also votes on and presides over the Town Board.
Unlike Nassau County, the town's finances are in excellent shape. In fact, the town has been running a revenue surplus. One of the most contentious issues this year is whether a portion of the surplus should be spent on capital improvements and the rest held for a rainy-day fund as Guardino and the Republican-dominated council have done over the last few years. Gorman, his Democratic rival, insists that the money belongs to the people not to the government and it should be returned to them in the form of a tax refund.
Half of the Town of Hempstead's six council districts, which make up the Town Board, will be decided on Nov. 6 as well. Council members are responsible for reviewing the town budget and setting town policy.
In the Town of Hempstead, voters will also select a Town Clerk and the Receiver of Taxes.
Two Propositions on the ballot
Finally, voters are asked to vote on two ballot propositions, one statewide, one countywide.
The county proposition asks voters to ratify a local law passed by the county legislature in July which would establish a four-year capital planning procedure, which is seen by both Democrats and Republicans as an important step in improving the way the county does business.
The state proposal would require making the state constitution gender neutral
