NASSAU COUNTY LEGISLATIVE RACES FOR THIS AREA
LEGISLATIVE REDISTRICTINGAfter more than two years of studying, debating, drawing and redrawing, a new county legislative district map was adopted earlier this year, passed by the legislature along a party line vote with 10 Republicans supporting and nine Democrats opposing the re-districting plan. The districts in our area have been greatly affected.
Currently the North Shore School District area is divided between two districts - the 11th which includes Glenwood Landing, Roslyn Harbor, Roslyn and Port Washington, and the 18th which includes Sea Cliff, Glen Head, Glen Cove, and the Brookvilles. The new 11th District stretches along the shores of Hempstead Harbor from Port Washington to Glen Cove. As a result, Sea Cliff and Glen Cove will now be in the 11th. The 18th was pushed eastward and includes Glen Head, the Brookvilles, Locust Valley, Bayville and Oyster Bay. These changes pushed two Democratic incumbents, Wayne Wink of East Hills and Delia Deriggi-Whitton of Glen Cove into the same district. Mr. Wink chose not to seek re-election and initially announced that he would be running for County Comptroller. After Howard Weitzman, who had served as comptroller from 2002-2010, announced that he would be seeking to get his old job back, Mr. Wink |
bowed out of the race and is now running for the position of North Hempstead Town Clerk. Ms. Deriggi-Whitton, who formerly represented the 18th District, is now running to represent the 11th and is not facing a primary opponent. She will run against Republican John DiMascio of Glen Cove in the general election this November. In the 18th District, Democrat Dave Gugerty of Bayville will be running against Republican Donald MacKenzie of Oyster Bay.
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LEGISLATIVE RACES
(as published in the Nassau County League of Women Voters Election Guide)
Below are the candidates' responses given to questions asked by the non-partisan Nassau County League of Women Voters. These responses and those of candidates in other races can be found at http://lwvofnassaucounty.org/files/NassauElections2013.pdf. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order.
Nassau County 11th DISTRICT ( Glenwood Landing, Roslyn Harbor, Sea Cliff, small pieces of Glen Head)
Delia Deriggi-Whitton (D, WFP)
Biographical Information:
Delia De Riggi-Whitton is serving her first term as Nassau County Legislator. Before being elected to the Nassau County Legislature, Delia served two terms as a member of the Glen Cove City Council. Long active in senior affairs, she was the Council’s liaison to the City’s Senior Center and was a member of the City’s Senior Advisory Board. She also began the Birthday Rose celebration at Senior Day events and is a member of the Sage Golf Outing Commission. Delia brings to the County a belief in financial oversight and fiscal responsibility. Delia has long been committed to improving the environment. While serving the City of Glen Cove, she was part of an initiative to clean up and revitalize deteriorated, polluted waterfront lands. At the county she has spearheaded several important environmental initiatives. Delia is firmly committed to protecting our natural areas and reversing pollution and contamination. Dedicated to assisting our youth, Delia helped to establish the Sidney Canarick Foundation for Glen Cove, Ltd. This worthy organization develops various sports programs to engage City youth. Delia participates in many community groups. As a member of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation and a member of the board of DRI, she helped to secure almost $800,000 in grants. She has led many fundraising efforts to benefit the Foundation as well as other charities. She is a member of the Sons of Italy and Kiwanis. Delia is a consultant to the New York Deferred Exchange Corporation as well as a non-profit company. A 1986 Glen Cove High School graduate, she became the school’s first all-county softball pitcher. She gained added recognition by pitching a no-hitter to lead her team to the 1985 county championship. A feat that has not been duplicated. A graduate of Hofstra University, Ms. De Riggi-Whitton has three daughters and is the proud daughter of Hon. Donald De Riggi and Dr. Mildred De Riggi.
Questions:
Q: What do you consider the two most important issues over the next two years and what would you do to deal with these issues?
A: 1: Mangano’s mismanagement.
2: No oversight in the Legislature, which worsens the mismanagement. Legislators provide checks and balances to the executive branch, but Nassau
has rubber stamp Legislators who approve bad ideas and give you no protection. Mangano’s financial mismanagement has Nassau on the brink of bankruptcy, serious service cuts and tax hikes. NIFA controls his finances. He has record debt and credit downgrades. Policy mismanagement includes: closing half the police precincts; trying to sell the sewer system in a
deal that favored an investment bank while driving up taxpayers’ rates. I fight for Legislative oversight. I fought $70 million in questionable cleanup contracts after Superstorm Sandy that are now under multiple criminal investigations. I submitted a bill to investigate such questionable practices and create a more transparent spending process for the future. I have repeatedly requested that major contracts come before the Finance Committee, on which I sit.
Q: What specifically can we do to improve our county's assessment system?
A: School taxes are up 19% in two years as a result of Mangano’s mishandling of the county assessment system. First, it was a harmful trick for him to push his costs out of his county budget and onto school districts. This forces either a rise in school taxes or a cut in school programs, all while the county tax bill does not decrease. Yes, extra taxes from the one who claims to “hold the line” on taxes. I would keep the County Guaranty and create a tax credit program to reduce residential and commercial taxpayers’ taxes by the amount of their refund granted and require all properties to maintain the approved tax levy. Second, Mangano’s decision to freeze assessment values for four years while awarding reductions to almost all homeowners who challenged their assessment has resulted in a tax increase for most homeowners. We need to re-evaluate the freeze and correct commercial and residential assessments and hire professional staff to conduct a substantive review of each grievance.
Q: What is one problem or issue that you will promise now to correct if elected and how will you accomplish it?
A: I will continue to fight for the Legislature to be an independent branch of government that scrutinizes the county executive’s ideas. Legislators are elected to protect the taxpayer’s financial interests and to protect the programs and services that county residents need from their government. I have refused to sit quietly as services get cut (while taxes are not cut) and as the finances of our county government go so far out of control that we are on the brink of disaster. I will continue to fight for my transparency bill to come before the Legislature. I will push for major contracts to come before the Finance Committee.
Delia De Riggi-Whitton is serving her first term as Nassau County Legislator. Before being elected to the Nassau County Legislature, Delia served two terms as a member of the Glen Cove City Council. Long active in senior affairs, she was the Council’s liaison to the City’s Senior Center and was a member of the City’s Senior Advisory Board. She also began the Birthday Rose celebration at Senior Day events and is a member of the Sage Golf Outing Commission. Delia brings to the County a belief in financial oversight and fiscal responsibility. Delia has long been committed to improving the environment. While serving the City of Glen Cove, she was part of an initiative to clean up and revitalize deteriorated, polluted waterfront lands. At the county she has spearheaded several important environmental initiatives. Delia is firmly committed to protecting our natural areas and reversing pollution and contamination. Dedicated to assisting our youth, Delia helped to establish the Sidney Canarick Foundation for Glen Cove, Ltd. This worthy organization develops various sports programs to engage City youth. Delia participates in many community groups. As a member of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation and a member of the board of DRI, she helped to secure almost $800,000 in grants. She has led many fundraising efforts to benefit the Foundation as well as other charities. She is a member of the Sons of Italy and Kiwanis. Delia is a consultant to the New York Deferred Exchange Corporation as well as a non-profit company. A 1986 Glen Cove High School graduate, she became the school’s first all-county softball pitcher. She gained added recognition by pitching a no-hitter to lead her team to the 1985 county championship. A feat that has not been duplicated. A graduate of Hofstra University, Ms. De Riggi-Whitton has three daughters and is the proud daughter of Hon. Donald De Riggi and Dr. Mildred De Riggi.
Questions:
Q: What do you consider the two most important issues over the next two years and what would you do to deal with these issues?
A: 1: Mangano’s mismanagement.
2: No oversight in the Legislature, which worsens the mismanagement. Legislators provide checks and balances to the executive branch, but Nassau
has rubber stamp Legislators who approve bad ideas and give you no protection. Mangano’s financial mismanagement has Nassau on the brink of bankruptcy, serious service cuts and tax hikes. NIFA controls his finances. He has record debt and credit downgrades. Policy mismanagement includes: closing half the police precincts; trying to sell the sewer system in a
deal that favored an investment bank while driving up taxpayers’ rates. I fight for Legislative oversight. I fought $70 million in questionable cleanup contracts after Superstorm Sandy that are now under multiple criminal investigations. I submitted a bill to investigate such questionable practices and create a more transparent spending process for the future. I have repeatedly requested that major contracts come before the Finance Committee, on which I sit.
Q: What specifically can we do to improve our county's assessment system?
A: School taxes are up 19% in two years as a result of Mangano’s mishandling of the county assessment system. First, it was a harmful trick for him to push his costs out of his county budget and onto school districts. This forces either a rise in school taxes or a cut in school programs, all while the county tax bill does not decrease. Yes, extra taxes from the one who claims to “hold the line” on taxes. I would keep the County Guaranty and create a tax credit program to reduce residential and commercial taxpayers’ taxes by the amount of their refund granted and require all properties to maintain the approved tax levy. Second, Mangano’s decision to freeze assessment values for four years while awarding reductions to almost all homeowners who challenged their assessment has resulted in a tax increase for most homeowners. We need to re-evaluate the freeze and correct commercial and residential assessments and hire professional staff to conduct a substantive review of each grievance.
Q: What is one problem or issue that you will promise now to correct if elected and how will you accomplish it?
A: I will continue to fight for the Legislature to be an independent branch of government that scrutinizes the county executive’s ideas. Legislators are elected to protect the taxpayer’s financial interests and to protect the programs and services that county residents need from their government. I have refused to sit quietly as services get cut (while taxes are not cut) and as the finances of our county government go so far out of control that we are on the brink of disaster. I will continue to fight for my transparency bill to come before the Legislature. I will push for major contracts to come before the Finance Committee.
John P. DiMascio (R, I, C)
Biographical Information:
U.S. Navy 7 years (Vietnam Veteran). Court Officer Nassau County 13 years. Private law practice 29 years. A.A. (Nassau Community College), B.A., M.A. (CW POST), Ph.D. cand (ABD) (NYU), J.D. St John's Law. Practice primarily Family Law. Pro Bono attorney for Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Bd. Directors North Shore Sheltering System. Member VFW, American Legion and Vietnam Veterans of America. Father of 3 adult children of prior marriage. Live with wife (an Attorney with her own practice), and 2 elementary school age children in Glen Cove. Candidate of the Republican, Independence and Conservative Parties. Endorsed by Court Officers Benevolent Association of Nassau County, and the Fraternal Order of Court Officers of New York State.
Questions:
Q: What do you consider the two most important issues over the next two years and what would you do to deal with these issues?
A: Taxes and spending.
1. Taxes are too high, and have been driving businesses, jobs, young people and seniors out of Nassau County. I will not vote in favor of any County tax increases during my term.
2. There is wasteful spending at all levels of government. I will identify
unnecessary and wasteful spending and work diligently to eliminate it from any proposed budget.
Q: What specifically can we do to improve our county's assessment system?
A: Appraisals should be realistic, perhaps even conservative, and in consideration of prevailing market prices at the time of appraisal to reduce grievances. Valid grievances should be settled promptly to avoid litigation and interest costs.
Q: What is one problem or issue that you will promise now to correct if elected and how will you accomplish it?
A: No single Legislator can promise to correct any problem. A member of a legislative body should work towards developing a consensus to address our problems. I would prioritize finances (taxes, spending, business development and jobs) and public safety.
U.S. Navy 7 years (Vietnam Veteran). Court Officer Nassau County 13 years. Private law practice 29 years. A.A. (Nassau Community College), B.A., M.A. (CW POST), Ph.D. cand (ABD) (NYU), J.D. St John's Law. Practice primarily Family Law. Pro Bono attorney for Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Bd. Directors North Shore Sheltering System. Member VFW, American Legion and Vietnam Veterans of America. Father of 3 adult children of prior marriage. Live with wife (an Attorney with her own practice), and 2 elementary school age children in Glen Cove. Candidate of the Republican, Independence and Conservative Parties. Endorsed by Court Officers Benevolent Association of Nassau County, and the Fraternal Order of Court Officers of New York State.
Questions:
Q: What do you consider the two most important issues over the next two years and what would you do to deal with these issues?
A: Taxes and spending.
1. Taxes are too high, and have been driving businesses, jobs, young people and seniors out of Nassau County. I will not vote in favor of any County tax increases during my term.
2. There is wasteful spending at all levels of government. I will identify
unnecessary and wasteful spending and work diligently to eliminate it from any proposed budget.
Q: What specifically can we do to improve our county's assessment system?
A: Appraisals should be realistic, perhaps even conservative, and in consideration of prevailing market prices at the time of appraisal to reduce grievances. Valid grievances should be settled promptly to avoid litigation and interest costs.
Q: What is one problem or issue that you will promise now to correct if elected and how will you accomplish it?
A: No single Legislator can promise to correct any problem. A member of a legislative body should work towards developing a consensus to address our problems. I would prioritize finances (taxes, spending, business development and jobs) and public safety.
Nassau County 18th Legislative District
David Gugerty (Dem, WFP)
Biographical Information:
I am a lifelong resident of Locust Valley and Bayville where I currently reside with my wife Helene and our two daughters. Our oldest daughter Emma just started at the University of Pennsylvania. I wonder if she and other young people will ever be able, due to the current fiscal mess in County government and the high taxes, to move back to Long Island, settle down and raise a family as we were able to do. I decided to enter this race to try and make a difference for all the families in the 18th Legislative District and the rest of Nassau County. I have always tried to be an active local community member having served as an elected Trustee of the Village of Bayville from 1994-2002 when I decided not to seek a third term so I could spend more time with the family. My career as an attorney began in public service before starting my own private firm with a trusted colleague. In 2005, I re-entered public service as Majority Counsel in the Nassau County Legislature in which role I drafted the toughest Megan's Law in New York State which protects our children by prohibiting sexual predators from living near our parks, playgrounds and schools. My team of attorneys also helped implement the Open Space Bond Acts which preserved almost 200 acres of land over recharge areas for our aquifers. I have also served as a Civil Service Commissioner and the Nassau County Public Administrator. Outside of work I have been active in many local volunteer organizations: St. Gertrude's CYO and Boys & Girl's Club basketball coach, Oak Neck Lacrosse, Relay for Life, Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and Red Cross Swim Across. My daughter and I have traveled three times to Ecuador and the Dominican Republic as volunteers with the Moreano World Medical Mission which provides life changing surgeries to needy children. Serving as a Legislator is the next logical stepin my public service career and I'm confident I have the experience to hit the ground running and do the job well.
Questions:
Q: What do you consider the two most important issues over the next two years and what would you do to deal with these issues?
A: Reducing the County's debt and fixing the County's broken assessment system so that the school taxes of hard working taxpayers aren't increased because of errors or policies at the County level. The Mangano Administration and the Republican Majority's insatiable appetite for borrowing, borrowing and more borrowing needs to be reversed. They have increased the County's debt to record high levels. This will saddle our children and grandchildren and make it impossible for them to live in Nassau County and for our seniors to stay here. I will insist that every possible means of cost cutting and expense reduction occur before authorizing more debt. We must “pay as you go” out of operating funds as much as possible just as the average household does. The Republican Majority eliminated the County Guaranty which pushed $80 million per year onto our school districts which will have to raise taxes to cover it. I would introduce legislation to reinstate the Guaranty to protect taxpayers.
Q: What specifically can we do to improve our county's assessment system?
A: We can improve the functioning of the Department of Assessment by ensuring that a sufficient number of qualified employees will be working continuously on substantively reviewing tax grievances so that only legitimate claims are granted a reduction. The recent policy of granting reductions to 87% of all claims has led to an unfair burden being placed on any homeowners who didn't grieve their taxes. The “cottage industry” of tax lawyers who benefit from this system where everyone is forced to grieve every year must be eliminated. I would also introduce legislation locally and/or seek permission from the state for legislation which allows the County to grant tax credits toward future taxes rather than granting someone who successfully grieves their taxes to get a cash refund. This would dramatically reduce the amount of interest we all have to pay in interest on those refunds.
Q: What is one problem or issue that you will promise now to correct if elected and how will you accomplish it?
A: I will ensure that every community in the 18th Legislative District is better prepared and safer when the next major hurricane or Nor’easter hits. This will be done through pre-planning and an insistence that critical “storm hardening” capital projects get completed in a timely manner. The example of West Shore Road crumbling into Oyster Bay Harbor is something that I would not allow to happen again. As Chief of Staff in the Legislature, I helped get the repair contracts for
that critical road onto the legislative agenda before Super Storm Sandy was ever heard of. Unfortunately, the Majority Republicans took them off the agenda so the repairs didn't happen in time. We need to act in a bi-partisan manner to get things done for people rather than do things for political advantage. I worked with Trustees from all parties in Bayville to do just that and will continue to do so as a Legislator. Climate change is here to stay, we need to be prepared for, not scared by the next storm.
I am a lifelong resident of Locust Valley and Bayville where I currently reside with my wife Helene and our two daughters. Our oldest daughter Emma just started at the University of Pennsylvania. I wonder if she and other young people will ever be able, due to the current fiscal mess in County government and the high taxes, to move back to Long Island, settle down and raise a family as we were able to do. I decided to enter this race to try and make a difference for all the families in the 18th Legislative District and the rest of Nassau County. I have always tried to be an active local community member having served as an elected Trustee of the Village of Bayville from 1994-2002 when I decided not to seek a third term so I could spend more time with the family. My career as an attorney began in public service before starting my own private firm with a trusted colleague. In 2005, I re-entered public service as Majority Counsel in the Nassau County Legislature in which role I drafted the toughest Megan's Law in New York State which protects our children by prohibiting sexual predators from living near our parks, playgrounds and schools. My team of attorneys also helped implement the Open Space Bond Acts which preserved almost 200 acres of land over recharge areas for our aquifers. I have also served as a Civil Service Commissioner and the Nassau County Public Administrator. Outside of work I have been active in many local volunteer organizations: St. Gertrude's CYO and Boys & Girl's Club basketball coach, Oak Neck Lacrosse, Relay for Life, Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and Red Cross Swim Across. My daughter and I have traveled three times to Ecuador and the Dominican Republic as volunteers with the Moreano World Medical Mission which provides life changing surgeries to needy children. Serving as a Legislator is the next logical stepin my public service career and I'm confident I have the experience to hit the ground running and do the job well.
Questions:
Q: What do you consider the two most important issues over the next two years and what would you do to deal with these issues?
A: Reducing the County's debt and fixing the County's broken assessment system so that the school taxes of hard working taxpayers aren't increased because of errors or policies at the County level. The Mangano Administration and the Republican Majority's insatiable appetite for borrowing, borrowing and more borrowing needs to be reversed. They have increased the County's debt to record high levels. This will saddle our children and grandchildren and make it impossible for them to live in Nassau County and for our seniors to stay here. I will insist that every possible means of cost cutting and expense reduction occur before authorizing more debt. We must “pay as you go” out of operating funds as much as possible just as the average household does. The Republican Majority eliminated the County Guaranty which pushed $80 million per year onto our school districts which will have to raise taxes to cover it. I would introduce legislation to reinstate the Guaranty to protect taxpayers.
Q: What specifically can we do to improve our county's assessment system?
A: We can improve the functioning of the Department of Assessment by ensuring that a sufficient number of qualified employees will be working continuously on substantively reviewing tax grievances so that only legitimate claims are granted a reduction. The recent policy of granting reductions to 87% of all claims has led to an unfair burden being placed on any homeowners who didn't grieve their taxes. The “cottage industry” of tax lawyers who benefit from this system where everyone is forced to grieve every year must be eliminated. I would also introduce legislation locally and/or seek permission from the state for legislation which allows the County to grant tax credits toward future taxes rather than granting someone who successfully grieves their taxes to get a cash refund. This would dramatically reduce the amount of interest we all have to pay in interest on those refunds.
Q: What is one problem or issue that you will promise now to correct if elected and how will you accomplish it?
A: I will ensure that every community in the 18th Legislative District is better prepared and safer when the next major hurricane or Nor’easter hits. This will be done through pre-planning and an insistence that critical “storm hardening” capital projects get completed in a timely manner. The example of West Shore Road crumbling into Oyster Bay Harbor is something that I would not allow to happen again. As Chief of Staff in the Legislature, I helped get the repair contracts for
that critical road onto the legislative agenda before Super Storm Sandy was ever heard of. Unfortunately, the Majority Republicans took them off the agenda so the repairs didn't happen in time. We need to act in a bi-partisan manner to get things done for people rather than do things for political advantage. I worked with Trustees from all parties in Bayville to do just that and will continue to do so as a Legislator. Climate change is here to stay, we need to be prepared for, not scared by the next storm.
Donald MacKenzie (Rep, CON, I, TRP)
Biographical Info: (as provided to the Nassau County League of Women Voters and published in the LWV Voters Guide)
No Response
Questions:
Q: What do you consider the two most important issues over the next two years and what would
you do to deal with these issues?
A: - no response -
Q: What specifically can we do to improve our county's assessment system?
A: - no response -
Q: What is one problem or issue that you will promise now to correct if elected and how will you
accomplish it?
A: - no response -
No Response
Questions:
Q: What do you consider the two most important issues over the next two years and what would
you do to deal with these issues?
A: - no response -
Q: What specifically can we do to improve our county's assessment system?
A: - no response -
Q: What is one problem or issue that you will promise now to correct if elected and how will you
accomplish it?
A: - no response -
