By Jonann Brady
Kevin Kamen, 45, the president of the Baldwin Public Library board of trustees, was nominated by the Republican Party to face incumbent Democrat Joseph Scannell, in his bid for a third two-year term. Baldwin resident Susan Wilmer, who was not available for an interview at press time, is running on the Conservative Party line.
Kamen has characterized Scannell as a "fence sitter" and said it's time for a change. "It's high time the residents of the Fifth District had a responsible, effective, accessible, hard-working advocate fighting for them in Mineola," said Kamen last week.
Kamen said there has been a void in constituent services, and he added that, if elected, he would hold office hours at a Baldwin district office every Saturday and several other days a week, and make sure all calls are logged, returned and followed up on.
Responding to Kamen's charges that he hasn't been accessible to constituent concerns, Scannell said, "I disagree 100 percent. That flies in the face of facts."
During his tenure, said Scannell, 41, he privately raised funds to open the first district office ever in Baldwin and has held 35 local community meetings. He pointed to several projects that have improved the quality of life for residents, such as securing $4.4 million for the renovation of Milburn Pond, Silver Lake and Lofts Pond, getting $500,000 in beautification money for Grand Avenue and pushing through street sweeping twice a week on Grand Avenue.
Scannell said he initially ran for office four years ago because he was concerned about the fiscal problems in the county and because of what was happening in Baldwin, which, politically speaking, was "nothing." "There had been no major capital project [in Baldwin] in 30 years," he said. "In four years, we've been unbelievably successful in focusing back on the district."
For his part, Kamen said quality-of-life issues are a main focus of his campaign. "This is suburbia. People moved here for a reason," he said, and pointed to a number of problems, including commercial vehicles parked on residential streets, illegal dwellings and newspaper and shopper boxes creating eyesores on corners.
Kamen also said he would put together an Economic Advisory Council for the district, comprising local business and community group leaders, Town of Hempstead officials and other municipal leaders to find grants and come up with ways to improve downtown areas. To combat the growing gang problem in the area, Kamen said he would also like to see antique-style police booths placed in high-crime areas.
sub: The bigger picture
With the county clawing its way out of fiscal insolvency, Scannell touted his ability to work with County Executive Tom Suozzi and the Democratic majority and push through plans to balance the budget and get the county's finances back on track. The county's budget is balanced for the first time in years, and Wall Street rating agencies have upgraded the county's bond rating.
While Kamen and other Republicans have bashed the current administration for raising taxes -- particularly the 19-percent county tax hike this year -- Scannell says that the county has a four-year plan that goes far beyond raising taxes.
As part of the current administration's four-year plan, the Democrats are reducing government by 16 percent, including a 1,000-person workforce reduction through attrition and smart-government initiatives to root out duplicated or unnecessary services. The administration is also seeking union concessions of $25 million to $30 million and looking to get the Sewer and Stormwater Authority bill passed, which it says will save the county $30 million annually.
The Republicans, said Scannell, have done little more than try to subvert the majority. "[They] have offered no plan of their own," he said.
When asked how he thinks Suozzi is handling county finances, Kamen said, "I'm not running against Suozzi," and said he would be able to work well with the county executive. In order to jump-start the economy and create jobs, Kamen said, the county needs to provide incentives and tax breaks to lure high-tech companies to the area.
While Kamen says he is against the privatization of county parks and other properties, he would like to see a minor-league ballpark built in the Hub area and perhaps a monorail built across Old County Road, between government buildings and the Coliseum. The projects could be paid for through advertising by private companies, he said.
Kamen said representation in the district has been sorely lacking. "I wouldn't run if I thought [Scannell] was effective," he said.
Scannell, however, disagrees. "I'm proud of my record, and I want to keep delivering," he said.
