5 Takeaways From Sen. Jim Gaughran, Edmund Smyth Candidate Forum

SYOSSET, NY — The two candidates for the state Senate's Fifth District participated in a engaging debate Wednesday night, differing on weighty issues such as abortion, restarting the economy and the state's looming budget shortfall.

Ahead of the Nov. 3 election, incumbent Democratic state Sen. Jim Gaughran and Republican challenger Edmund Smyth took questions at a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Port Washington-Manhasset.

Here are five takeaways from the forum.

1. Gaughran is most concerned about the state's massive budget shortfall and looming cuts, while Smyth is focused on the safe reopening of the economy during the coronavirus era.

Gaughran said he believes the biggest issue facing his district is how to avoid cuts to schools, local governments and hospitals. The state adopted what he called an "optimistic budget" based on the representations from Washington that federal aid would be provided for lost revenues. The state can't print money, but the federal government can borrow money and send the state aid, he said.

"Our sales tax, our income tax is dramatically dropping. So what we need to do is to make sure that we're avoiding cuts, that we're filling any budget holes that we need and that we're moving forward with our economy," Gaughran said. He believes New York will get federal aid only if President Donald Trump is defeated in the Nov. 3 election by former Vice President Joe Biden.

Smyth said his top priority is the safe reopening of the economy during the coronavirus era.

"We have to get back to business. We have to do it safely. We have to figure out ways to do it."

The economy drives the tax revenue to Albany, he said. He called it "wishful thinking" to rely on the federal government for anything, and said tough decisions will have to be made using the money in the state's coffers.

"I don't think that's a good strategy to wait for Washington, D.C. to do anything for us. I think we have to look at our own budget and prioritize what's in the budget."

2. Smyth said closing loopholes and grants can help close New York's budget shortfall, while Gaughran said hard choices around prioritizing cuts are in store.

Smyth pointed to tax breaks for Hollywood producers and public funding of political campaigns as areas that can be nixed to close the budget gap.

"That's nothing but welfare for politicians. I don't support it at all," he said.

However, Gaughran rejected Smyth's call for closing political campaign funding and tax breaks for Hollywood producers would address the shortfall. He said the overwhelming majority of the state budget goes to aid for public schools and medical costs, such as funding hospitals and nursing homes.

"It's going to come down to making some tough choices," Gaughran said. "My choices are going to be No. 1, public education, funding to our public schools, our K-12, as well as our community colleges and state universities. That is where I'd like to cut the very least."

Gaughran said cuts could be possible for other agencies, such as economic development programs and parks. He also supports bringing online sports betting to New York to raise revenue.

3. Amid Trump's nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court, the candidates disagreed over whether they'll support the state's Reproductive Health Act, which codified the landmark Roe. v. Wade case in New York. Gaughran said he supports the act and warned Barrett will likely vote to reverse Roe v. Wade.

"We are one vote away from every woman in this country losing their very basic reproductive health rights," he said.

Smyth, however, said he opposes the state legislation and would have left the law where it was, allowing abortions at up to 24 weeks of pregnancy.

"I didn't think it needed to be expanded further through the moment of birth," he said. "I think it's far too extreme."

Smyth said he also supports requiring a medical doctor to perform an abortion.

4. The candidates shared their recommendations to jump-start the economy.

Smyth said he would let businesses decide how best to reopen safely, noting the requirements differ between industries. He supports a public mask-requirement and having gloves and hand sanitizer available, but industries should be allowed to come up determine how to reopen, he said.

Gaughran said he wants to rethink how the state's economic development money is given out, moving away from regional competition practices and possibly providing direct financial help to new businesses to create jobs. Gaughran said the state needs to work with towns on land-use changes.

5. The candidates also shared opposing views on the state's controversial bail reform legislation.

Gaughran said he was happy to vote for the reforms, which were included in Gov. Andrew Cuomo's budget. He noted that opposing the budget would mean no money for schools. Gaughran acknowledged he felt the original bail reforms needed to be changed, but that he supported the underlying principle that people accused of nonviolent crimes shouldn't be jailed because they can't afford bail.

Gaughran noted he sponsored legislation to restore many crimes as bail eligible immediately after the budget passed.

Smyth called the bail reform legislation was "ill-advised" and should be "repealed in its entirety," though he acknowledged he supports the underlying purpose.

"Nobody should ever spend a night in jail for a traffic violation or stealing a backpack," Smyth said.

However, district attorneys, judges and even criminal defense lawyers weren't consulted in the process, he said. Smyth believes many of the crimes shouldn't be covered under the reforms.

"It was not anything like petty, nonviolent crimes," Smyth said. "There were some very serious crimes that were included in the original draft." He noted many were left in even after revisions, including some sex offenses.

The Fifth District covers the North Shore of Long Island, including Glen Cove, Syosset, Jericho, Oyster Bay, Plainview, Huntington, Northport, Melville, Dix Hills and part of Commack.

A livestream of the event, hosted by the League of Women Voters of Port Washington-Manhasset, started around 7:15 p.m. Wednesday.