Manorhaven Mayoral Candidates' Forum: Start Time, How To Watch

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — As the 2020 election season ramps up, incumbent Manorhaven village Mayor Jim Avena is scheduled to square off next week against challenger Vinny Costa at a virtual candidates' forum.

The League of Women Voters of Port Washington-Manhasset will host the online candidate forum Tuesday, Sept. 8, a week ahead of the Sept. 15 village election.

Residents can email questions to both candidates before and during the event to LWV.Qs.PortWashington@gmail.com. The forum will be streamed online on the organization's website.

The nonpartisan political organization said on its website that it is dedicated to encouraging "informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy."

Avena, who took over the mayoral office in 2016 after defeating Gary Pagano, is running on the Manorhaven Residents Party ticket. The party is running on a platform that government became stronger during Avena's tenure, including running a balanced budget, improving the village's bond rating, opening Morgan's Dock, launching the Manorhaven Boulevard project, preventing development on marine property, and cracking down on unlawful over-occupancy code violations. The ticket, which will appear as Row A on ballots, includes incumbent Trustee Priscilla von Roeschla and Joe Zimbardi.

Costa is running as a part of the Manorhaven Liberty Party, which has expressed concerns about development in the area, including what it sees as over-development and an inequitable favoring of builders over neighbors. Costa's ticket, which will appear as Row B on ballots, includes Harry Farina and Walter Peters.