By:Angela Marshall
With memories of the controversial balloting in 2000 still vivid, voters will make a choice in the contentious presidential race between George W. Bush and Democratic challenger John F. Kerry. They will also choose among the candidates in other federal and state races.
Federal races
U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) is seeking a fifth two-year term in the battle for the 4th Congressional seat. Nassau County Republican leaders think Village of Hempstead Mayor James Garner is the opponent to finally end this nurse-turned-politician's run.
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) has two opponents this year. The senior senator, who is seeking a second six-year term, faces Republican Howard Mills, the deputy minority leader of the state Assembly, who represents Hudson Valley's Orange County, and Conservative Party candidate Dr. Marilyn O'Grady, an ophthalmologist from Garden City. O'Grady lost in a bid to unseat McCarthy two years ago, when she ran as a Republican.
State Assembly and Senate races
Challengers in all the state races are accusing longtime incumbents from both parties of failing to recognize and fix the problems in state government. The "Fix Albany" battle cry may have begun in the Democratic camp, but the mantra has been eagerly adopted by Republican challengers as well.
State Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) has represented the 9th senatorial district for almost two decades. His challenger, Josh Ketover, is a Long Beach attorney with his own firm.
Two-term incumbent Bob Barra (R-Lynbrook) faces Dan Torres, an engineer from Baldwin Harbor, in his bid to recapture the 14th Assembly District.
Harvey Weisenberg, the Democratic incumbent in the 20th Assembly District since 1989, is being challenged by Republican Gary Spitz, a deputy county attorney since 1994. Both are from Long Beach.
West Hempstead resident and Democrat George Bassias is looking to unseat five-term incumbent Tom Alfano (R-North Valley Stream) in the 21st Assembly District.
Judges
There are 14 candidates seeking seven positions as judges this year. The open positions include one in Nassau County Family Court, three in Nassau County District Court, second district, and three in County Court. In the Family Court race, two near-newcomers face off. Republican Salvatore Pontillo, who has been elected to public office five times before, faces Democrat Hope Zimmerman, a law secretary to Supreme Court Justice Elaine Jackson-Stack.
Two Republican incumbents, Norman Janowitz and Christopher Quinn, and one Democratic incumbent, Norman St. George, are seeking re-election to Nassau County District Court, second district. They face two private-practice attorneys, Democrats Bonnie Chaikin and Joseph DeFelice, and a law secretary, Republican Gary Knobel. The top three vote-getters will win six-year terms.
In the County Court race, three Republican incumbents, Daniel Palmieri, Daniel Cotter and Donald Belfi, are being challenged by District Court Judge Steven Jaeger and attorneys Tammy S. Robbins and John L. Kase. The top three vote-getters in this race will earn 10-year terms.
Open-space referendum
Voters will also decide on Nassau County's proposed open-space referendum, which was written by county Legislator David Denenberg, a Democrat of Merrick. If passed, the referendum would provide the county with $50 million in bond money to buy and preserve open space.
Here's how the preservation process would work: A county legislator could propose a specific property to the county executive. If the executive agreed, the county's Open Space and Parks Advisory Committee would consider the parcel of land. If the proposal met with the committee's approval, it would move to the Legislature, which would have to approve the land acquisition by at least a 13-6 vote. Finally, the county executive would have to sign off on it. If approved, the measure would cost residents an additional $7 in county property taxes a year.
Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 2. For information about your polling place, call the Nassau County Board of Elections at (516) 571-2411..
