Great Neck voters got an up-close look at their potential state representatives Tuesday at a League of Women Voters candidates night in Manhasset.
Candidates from the 16th State Assembly District and the 7th State Senate District pitched themselves to voters, seeking to shore up support two weeks before election day.
Sitting side by side at a table in a function room at Manhasset’s Unitarian Universalist Congregation, would-be representatives passed a microphone back and forth, fielding questions from an engaged audience on issues ranging from public pension reform to same-sex marriage.
16th District state Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel (D-Great Neck) touted her what she described as her successful fiscal policy, pointing to her support of $13 billion in deficit cuts and a tax package that cut income tax rates for many New Yorkers while boosting rates on people making over $2 million per year.
Schimel also repeatedly endorsed microstamping as a method of tracking illegal guns.
“Gun violence is up and our law enforcement agents are being killed at a high rate,” she said, noting the fatal shooting earlier Tuesday afternoon of a Nassau County officer during a traffic stop.
Her opponent, attorney Richard Stiek from Port Washington, said that his top priorities would be cutting government spending and promoting the growth of small business.
“I walk up and down Main Street every day in Port Washington, and I see business that are closed,” said Stiek, who said that he supports an income tax credit to encourage hiring by small businesses.
Both candidates were in agreement on some policy issues – in a break with many Republicans Stiek said that he supports Roe v. Wade and believes that abortion is a private medical issue, and he praised Schimel and the Assembly for balancing budgets in recent years.
But Stiek and Schimel sparred on Schimel’s vote for the MTA payroll tax and on state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s (D-New York) role in paying confidential settlements to women allegedly sexually harassed by state Assemblyman Vito Lopez (D-Brooklyn).
Stiek accused the MTA of large-scale waste and said taxing non-commuters to fund New York City’s mass transit was not appropriate.
On the Lopez sexual harassment scandal, Schimel said that she had called on Lopez to resign but would wait for the completion of watchdog agency JCOPE’s investigation before reaching a conclusion about Silver’s actions.
Stiek said that it was an issue of “moral responsibility” and attacked Silver for creating a culture of “impunity” in Albany.
Stiek also said that the National Organization of Women and good government group Common Cause New York had called for Silver’s resignation – a statement contradicted by a spokesperson from NOW NYC, who told the Great Neck News that they had advocated no such thing. Common Cause New York has also fallen short of asking Silver to resign, instead pushing jointly with NOW NYC for a full investigation.
7th District State Senator Jack Martins (R-Mineola) also took questions with challenger Dan Ross (D-Manhasset).
Much of the political jockeying focused on the experience gap between the former mayor of Mineola Martins and political newcomer Ross, with Martins touting his bipartisan record on mandate relief and Ross accusing his opponent of being a career politician.
Mineola resident Dennis Walsh brought the issue to a point, noting that his son, who he said is Ross’s age, is working in a drug rehabilitation clinic while Ross is running for office.
“What makes you think someone your age…. should start at the top?” he asked.
“My background is one of great diversity and deep experience,” Ross said, arguing that his work as a captain in the Manhassat Lakeville Fire Department and as the general manager of a car dealership demonstrate his ability to lead.
On several questions about social issues, Ross endorsed abortion rights and same-sex marriage while Martins attempted to walk a tight line between his personal social conservatism and his more moderate policy positions.
Martins said that, though he is personally pro-life, he would not seek to change the legal right to abortions and contraception possessed by women in New York State.
Discussing his vote against the 2011 bill that legalized same-sex marriage in New York, Martins said he was conflicted about the issue and would have preferred an alternative bill legalizing civil unions.
“It was not an easy vote,” Martins said. “I don’t believe that people in a loving relationship should have the law discriminate against them.
He added that supporters and opponents of the bill had advocated their positions to him with what he described as equal moral clarity, and that he could not personally support the legalization of same-sex marriage.
In closing statements, Ross said that he would represent the district independent of the special interests he said have excessive influence in Albany. Martins said he had served with integrity and argued that residents of the district are better off than they were when he took office.
