Tom Suozzi said in a recent interview with Blank Slate Media that debating policy differences with his opponents in the race for the Democratic nomination in the 3rd Congressional District was “almost futile.”
The former Nassau County Executive had a point.
Outside of Jonathan Clarke, a Bernie Sanders backer with little funding, the five candidates expressed few, if any, policy differences during the race to replace U.S. Rep. Steve Israel.
Suozzi is also facing former Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman, Suffolk County Legislator Steve Stern and Town of North Hempstead Councilwoman Anna Kaplan in the race for the Democratic nomination in a district that stretches from Queens to Suffolk County.
Perhaps the lack of differences between the candidates is mere coincidence or perhaps the solutions to our nation’s problems are that obvious. We tend to believe at least part of this phenomenon is their ability to read polls.
It is interesting to note that all the candidates’ opposition to the Trans Pacific Partnership trade agreement, the Iran nuclear deal and U.S. policy with Israel puts them at odds with President Obama, a fellow Democrat.
The candidates’ agreement on the issues — or at least their unwillingness to express their difference — leaves voters with two main criteria: the candidates’ record and their personal qualities.
We believe Suozzi’s record stands out from his competitors, having made great strides in repairing Nassau County’s finances during two terms as county executive. He was also an early leader in the reform-Albany movement, has articulated sensible solutions to national problems and benefits from a run for governor that exposed him to many concerns faced across the county.
His opponents all have commendable records, but lack the breadth of experience, responsibility and record of success. The ideas that they bring to the campaign while sensible, tend to be small bore.
Kaiman has a substantial resume, having served as Town of North Hempstead supervisor, district judge, chairman of the Nassau County Interim Finance Authority and Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Hurricaine Sandy recovery czar for Long Island.
His record includes some notable achievements at Town Hall including the development of the Project Independence program for seniors the 311 program, which that helps connect residents with the town, and the TownStat program.
It also includes some misses. The Town Building Department was rocked by scandal in 2007 when five employees were arrested and continued to be well short of customer-friendly after the arrested employees were replaced. He also failed to adequately safeguard against ethical violations such as those involving former Town Democratic leader Gerard Terry as well as criminal activity on the part of town employees.
Stern, who received Israel’s backing early in the campaign, has championed Housing Our Heroes Act, a bill to turn vacant Suffolk County homes into housing for homeless veterans.
We found his campaign disappointing, offering dubious claims targeted against Suozzi.
Among these was the claim that Suozzi had raised county taxes 19.4 percent in his first year of office after saying he wouldn’t during the campaign.
Suozzi, it turns out, had not promised to not raise taxes and he had good reason to raise taxes when he did. Nassau County finances were a disaster, requiring a $500 million state bailout.
Stern’s challenge of an increase in taxes for a county in the midst of a financial crisis seems a strange complaint from a Democrat. Stern also failed to impress when he said he based his opposition to the Trans Pacific Partnership trade agreement based on conversations with local business leaders and groups, before adding he had not seen evidence that it would benefit Long Island.
Anna Kaplan is in her second term in the North Hempstead Town Council after having served on the Great Neck Library Board of Trustees.
Kaplan has a compelling life story, having fled revolutionary Iran in 1979 at age 13 to earn a law degree and serve in government. But she has yet to show much in the way of accomplishments and did not show a great command for the issues. In six instances during a one-hour and seven-minute interview with us she said she’d have to look further into something when pressed on an issue.
Clarke is an attorney from Jericho who to his credit has handled a lawsuit over a purge of New York City voter rolls but lacks government experience.
Suozzi is not a perfect candidate.
He took his eye off the ball when he made a long-shot campaign against Elliot Spitzer for governor in 2006. He then showed poor judgment when he took Ed Mangano took lightly in 2009 and lost a bid for re-election by a few hundred votes — and more than $1 million in campaign money unspent. He then lost a rematch against Mangano by a wide margin.
Suozzi says he has learned from his mistakes. We take him at his word that he has.
When focused, he is an energetic and articulate advocate with a good grasp of the issues — qualities that would allow him to represent the 3rd District well.
