Election Day is just around the corner with the big question being who will take over the White House. But here in Nassau County, several additional local elections are taking place in our community. Voters have many candidates to choose from, each with distinct policy positions on matters of safety, the economy, and education.
Tom Suozzi, trained as an attorney and a certified public accountant, has served as Nassau County Executive and Mayor of Glen Cove in the past, and is now Congressman for New York’s 3rd Congressional District. In his current congressional campaign for reelection, Suozzi is focusing on a platform centered around fiscal responsibility, climate action, and improving healthcare. A strong advocate for middle-class tax relief, Suozzi aims to balance the budget while ensuring that essential public services are well-funded. He also supports initiatives to combat climate change by investing in clean energy and infrastructure upgrades to protect our coastal areas.
In regards to healthcare, Suozzi is advocating for accessibility to affordable care, including lowering the costs of prescription drugs and safeguarding Medicare. Additionally, he has emphasized the importance of bipartisanship on his campaign trail, and has pushed for practical and collaborative solutions over the nation’s most pressing issues.
“We’ve got a lot of talented people who’ve devoted their lives to public service, and we’ve got to all work together as a team moving forward. There’s a lot of people – it takes teamwork to make the dream work. We’ve got to keep the whole team together, working together, because we’re not going back,” said Suozzi at a re-election campaign launch event in Sept.
Kim Keiserman, a 23-year resident of Port Washington, is running to represent the 7th state Senate District in northwestern Nassau County, which is an area that overlaps extensively with Suozzi’s congressional district. Keiserman is currently President of the Port Washington Democratic Club and Zone Leader for the Nassau County Democratic Committee. Keiserman stated on her campaign website that her priorities, if elected, are to strengthen education by increasing public school funding, promote affordable housing, advocate for sensible gun laws, and defend women’s reproductive rights.
Keiserman is running against Republican candidate Jack Martins, who served as Mayor of Mineola for eight years and as a state senator for five before stepping down.
“Keiserman’s passion for activism in climate change and fire protection is inspiring. Being involved can make a real difference for our planet,” said senior Bella Sinclair.
Jack Martins is running on a platform that prioritizes public safety, tax reduction, and education reform. Martins has been a vocal advocate for law enforcement and crime prevention efforts, emphasizing the importance of keeping our communities safe.
Martins supports reducing property taxes and cutting government spending to ease the financial burden on families and small businesses. He is also focusing on education reform, particularly through the expansion of school choice and charter schools, which he believes will offer parents more control over their children’s education, without having to spend on private school. Additionally, he has stressed reducing bureaucratic red tape to foster economic growth and job creation.
“I think it’s really exciting to see so many local candidates running, especially because some of them are from our area. It feels like the decisions we make will directly affect our community, so it makes me want to get more involved and pay attention to what each candidate stands for,” said senior Juliana Dommel.
Both Keiserman and Martins oppose the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)’s plan to impose tolls on driving into Midtown Manhattan, but they have differing views on how to address the $1 billion revenue shortfall.
Keiserman advocates for funding through additional MTA bonding, while Martins argues that the transit agency already allocates $3 billion toward debt service and suggests a thorough review of spending cuts. He also questions the sustainability of all projects in the capital plan. Despite their differences, they both agree on the necessity of expanding the train yard at the Long Island Rail Road’s Port Washington station to increase service availability.
“I’m excited to vote for the first time and finally have a real voice to help make our community and state change. I can’t wait to make choices and stand up for the issues that matter most to me,” said senior Rino Sekiyama.
As Election Day approaches, the candidates promise to shape the future of our community significantly. With a range of policies being addressed, voters will have the opportunity to have their voices heard on matters that directly affect their lives.