By Scott Brinton
Hempstead Town Councilwoman Rita Kestenbaum (D-Bellmore) won her post in the fracas of 1999's election, when Democrats captured three of six town board seats. Now, in a special election, Ms. Kestenbaum is campaigning vigorously to keep her seat from her opponent, Town Tax Receiver Angelina Cullin (R-Freeport) -- herself a councilwoman from 1988 to 1990.
Few had expected Ms. Kestenbaum, a political outsider who had never run for elected office, to capture a place on the council. Throughout this century, Republican men had dominated the board.
However, with Nassau voters voicing their displeasure for GOP rule in general last year, Ms. Kestenbaum squeaked by Republican favorite Gary Hudes of Levittown in Hempstead's last at-large election.
Ms. Kestenbaum, however, celebrated her victory only a short while. Her term would have run four years, except for a 1997 federal-court decision invalidating the town's system of at-large elections. District Judge John Gleeson ruled that Hempstead's system of at-large elections violated the 1965 Voting Rights Act and ordered that it be replaced ASAP with a system of district voting.
So, for the first time, town board candidates are running for specific district posts this year. Ms. Kestenbaum and Ms. Cullin are seeking office in District 5, which comprises Bellmore, Merrick, North Bellmore, Wantagh, Seaford and part of Freeport.
Under Judge Gleeson's ruling, half of the council's six members will serve for one year their first time out; the other half, three years, after which, all candidates will win four-year terms. Ms. Kestenbaum and Ms. Cullin are running for a three-year seat. Town council members earn $47,500 annually for their part-time positions.
Ms. Kestenbaum says having three Democrats on the town council has brought "good government" to Hempstead. For decades, she said, GOP council members voted in lock-step fashion, with more thought to their political party's concerns than those of their constituents. "If there has never been a no vote at the Town of Hempstead until this year, do you call that good government?" she said.
Republicans, however, charge that Democrats have roiled town government, forcing dissension on the council where harmony once reigned. With an all-Republican board, Ms. Cullin said, "We'd be working together and getting things done quicker than we are now."
Ms. Kestenbaum said Democrats have introduced necessary procedures that may prolong town council meetings, but give constituents a chance to voice their opinions to the board before it votes on an issue. In the past, she said, residents could speak to the council only after a matter was voted on. Now, the candidate said, "Anybody can speak to a resolution before a resolution is voted on."
Democratic council members also called for the town council to convene night meetings, which, they said, would permit more residents to attend board sessions. "The Republicans fought us on this," Ms. Kestenbaum said. Evening sessions were eventually allowed.
"When we campaigned, we talked about opening up government," Ms. Kestenbaum said on Wednesday, October 18 during a League of Women Voters candidates' forum, which Ms. Cullin did not attend. (The tax receiver said she received short notice of the debate at the Bellmore Public Library; league members said she was notified of the forum on September 12.)
One central issue in this year's council election is Hempstead's budget surplus, which town Republicans say amounts to some $50 million, while Democrats say it's more like $26 million. Ms. Kestenbaum charged that Republican Town Supervisor Richard Guardino is artificially inflating the surplus for appearance sake during election season (the higher the surplus, the higher the town's bond rating, which is considered among the best in New York State).
Ms. Kestenbaum said the town has kept expenses low by failing to care for necessary maintenance in the parks and other town properties. The surplus, she said, "is inappropriately too high...Let's start allocating the money where it needs to go."
According to Ms. Cullin, the town has reduced government waste in the last 10 years by eliminating unnecessary staff through attrition. She offered the tax department as an example. When she began as tax receiver, she said, she oversaw a staff of 75. The department now numbers 32 workers.
Ms. Cullin agreed that more of the surplus must go to services, adding, "You have to keep so much of it to keep a good bond rating."
Ms. Kestenbaum said that, although she has served one year in office, she is still running as a political outsider. "At the town board," she said, "I have voted yes where my [fellow] Democrats have voted no. I come from the community. I didn't come from a party."
Ms. Cullin said she is running for council because she is looking to tackle a new "challenge" after achieving all her objectives as tax receiver and because she is seeking to "help" residents. When questioned further, she later said, "Truthfully, the party needs me. I believe in the Republican Party."
