Syosset 2019 Elections: Candidates, Polling Places, Hours

SYOSSET, NY — Syosset voters will head to the polls Tuesday to cast ballots for key Nassau County and Town of Oyster Bay races, including district attorney, legislature, supervisor, council member, clerk and tax receiver. Incumbents Madeline Singas, Joseph Saladino, Steve Labriola and Josh Lafazan are among those defending their seats Nov. 5.

Nassau has hundreds of election districts, and polling locations can differ even between neighbors across the street. Registered voters should have received a notice in August containing polling location information. If not, the New York State Board of Elections also has an online tool to help voters find their polling place. It also has district information so voters know what races they can cast ballots for, as well as see what party they're registered under.

Polls will open at 6 a.m. Tuesday and close at 9 p.m.

Here's a ballot breakdown for Syosset.

Nassau County District Attorney

Madeline Singas, Nassau's incumbent Democratic district attorney, seeks a second four-year term as top prosecutor against Republican challenger Frank McQuade. As the chief law enforcement official for the county, the district attorney manages more than 350 attorneys, investigators and support staff who prosecute and investigate about 30,000 criminal cases every year.

Singas, who defeated former Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray in 2015, seeks a second four-year term as the county's district attorney. In a Patch questionnaire, Singas singled out the opioid crisis as one of the most pressing issues facing Nassau County.

While fatal drug overdoses have fallen more than 20 percent, "too many of our neighbors continue to fall victim to opioid abuse," she wrote. Singas also touted her office's efforts to open the county's first 24/7 drug crisis center.

"It works to provide around-the-clock medical treatment and bridge the treatment gap that exists when an overdose victim is released from the emergency room and their placement in long-term treatment," she said.

Her opponent, McQuade, a former police officer and longtime private practice attorney, has highlighted state legislation that reforms the cash bail process as the most pressing issue facing the county.

"With cashless bail, there will be an opportunity for criminals to walk away less than 24 hours after committing a crime, which can vary from petty to extreme," he wrote.

See also: 'Seismic' Changes: Nassau DA Candidates Sound Off On Bail Reform

The laws are designed to protect people from being jailed for nonviolent crimes simply because they can't afford bail. But the legislation goes too far, McQuade said.

"We don't need laws which dismantle how we go about prosecuting criminals," he wrote. With the right people handling the judicial process, like me as district attorney, crime will be handled the right way without baseless reprieve.

Nassau County Legislature - District 18

In District 18, Josh Lafazan, who in 2017 became the county's youngest legislator ever, seeks a second term running as an independent on the Democratic line. Standing in his way is challenger Timothy Jenks, who is running on the Republican line.

The district includes parts of Syosset, Woodbury, Brookville, Old Brookville, East Hills, East Norwich, Oyster Bay, Laurel Hollow, Cove Neck, Matinecock, Glen Head, Locust Valley, Lattingtown, Mill Neck, Bayville and Centre Island.

In a Patch candidate questionnaire, Lafazan, who lives in Woodbury, said the single most pressing issue facing the community was high property tax burden.

"As a millennial Long Islander, my generation is uniquely familiar with the high real state tax burden, as it remains a massive inhibitor towards youth home ownership," he said.

Timothy Jenks did not fill out the questionnaire. On his website, the Glen Head attorney wrote that he attended Chaminade High School and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Vermont. He later attended New York Law School before joining a New York City law firm, litigating catastrophic injury cases on behalf of firefighters and injured clients who were victims of negligence and medical malpractice. Jenks currently works for a Garden City law firm advocating for clients in court nearly every day of the week.

Among his top priorities: overhauling the county's tax reassessment plan.

"The democrats have continued to batter and weaken our local economy in recent months," he wrote. "Tim promises to do everything in his power to bring back the long-lost prosperity that Nassau County deserves."

Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor

In the race for supervisor, incumbent Republican Joseph Saladino seeks a second two-year term against James Altadonna Jr., a Republican running on the Democratic ticket.

The town board, legislative body of the Town of Oyster Bay, is comprised of the supervisor and six council members. The board is responsible for operating the town by passing local laws, ordinances and resolutions.

Unincorporated areas in the town include Bethpage, East Norwich, Glen Head, parts of Glenwood Landing, Greenvale, Hicksville, Jericho, Locust Valley, Massapequa, North Massapequa, Old Bethpage, Oyster Bay, Plainview, Seaford, South Farmingdale, Syosset and Woodbury.

Incorporated villages in the town include Bayville, Brookville, Centre Island, Cove Neck, Farmingdale, Lattingtown, Laurel Hollow, Massapequa Park, Matinecock, Mill Neck, Muttontown, Old Brookville, Old Westbury, Oyster Bay Cove, Roslyn Harbor, Sea Cliff, Upper Brookville and Westbury.

Saladino said residents are most concerned about affordability and high taxes.

"While Town of Oyster Bay taxes only make up 17 percent of your tax bill, I am doing everything in my power to protect your wallet," he said.

Meanwhile, Altadonna said the most pressing issue facing Town of Oyster Bay residents was balancing the budget.

"For too long it has been put off by the people at the top," he said. "By borrowing against future revenue we essentially create a flood gate that will burst open, leaving the town in monetary crisis."

Town of Oyster Bay Council

In the Town of Oyster Bay council election, seven candidates are vying for three open seats. Three candidates are running on the Democratic ticket and three are running on the Republican line. One is running as a Libertarian.

On the Republican side, taxes were the center of their focus for this election. Incumbent Republican Councilman Steve Labriola said property taxes were his top concern.

"As a state assemblyman, I voted to enact the STAR program to help deliver property tax relief to homeowners," he said. "I consistently voted against tax hikes, including the largest tax hike in New York State history. As town councilman, I've worked to cut government waste and hold the line on taxes."

Fellow Republicans Laura Maier and Vicki Walsh cited high taxes and honest government as the most pressing issue.

"Residents want an honest government that delivers services while holding taxes down," Maier said. "If given your vote, I will pursue a common sense agenda that includes: holding the line on taxes, reducing debt, cutting waste, implementing efficiencies and repaving streets."

Walsh said: "High taxes is the number one concern for families and senior citizens on Long Island. I'm running for town council to deliver an honest government with taxpayers first and foremost in mind."

The Democrats, however, were a little more varied in their answers.

Melissa Ann McCardle said the most pressing issue is to fix the town's finances.

"The New York State comptroller's office just released a report stating the Town of Oyster Bay is only one of eight municipalities in the state in 'significant fiscal stress,'" she said. "It is imperative that we fix the town's finances with a bold agenda which prioritizes making the budget, debt, and procurement process transparent."

For Erin Guida, it comes down to one word: corruption.

"Corruption in the Town of Oyster Bay is prevalent and endemic," she said. "As the next councilwoman, I'll work with my colleagues to make budgeting, debt and procurement more transparent which are key to balancing our town finances."

And Ned Newhouse said he was most concerned about weathered roads.

"Beaten up roads," he said. "People living in a mess. Cars pounded in craters. We need a comprehensive road reform and rebuild plan that initially studies our 707 miles of roads and puts that data for the leadership and the public to see, so we can then act and prioritize them for repaving and repair. "

As for Rabin, the lone Libertarian in the race agreed with Guida, saying the single biggest issue facing the county is corruption. He noted the problem will take a multifaceted solution.

"The patronage jobs, the hidden taxes/fees and fines on our citizens, the bloated government, self dealing and nepotism are all rampant problems," he said. "As a nonpartisan member on such a board I will provide information and transparency within the law to the electorate."

Town of Oyster Bay Clerk

In the race for town clerk, Democrat Rachel Klein and Republican Richard LaMarca are vying to fill Altadonna's seat. The clerk's office maintains all town records and keeps track of key numbers. The office also issues licenses and permits, including shellfish, peddlers, parking, secondhand dealers, waste removal, hunting, fishing and dog, as well as birth certificates, marriage licenses and death transcripts. Passports can also be applied for through this office.

The clerk is elected every two years.

Klein, a teacher and stay-at-home-mom, joined her fellow Democrats in citing corruption as the key issue facing constituents.

"It's wrong, and it costs us as taxpayers," she said. "I intend to be a check on our local government. The town clerk is the keeper of the town records. It's critical that we have someone honest in this role."

Meanwhile, LaMarca, the director of labor-management relations for the town, joined his fellow Republicans in saying high taxes were the biggest issue.

"As your next town clerk, I will work to cut taxpayer costs," he said. "I will make services more efficient and eliminate waste."

Town of Oyster Bay Tax Receiver

In the race for tax receiver, Republican Jeff Pravato and Democrat George Hignell are vying to fill the seat of James Stefanich, who is retiring. The office handles the billing of property taxes on more than 100,000 parcels of land and acts as a collection agency for the state, county, town, special district and school district taxes.

The tax receiver, who is elected every four years, is also tasked with maintaining records and mapping parcels of land.

Pravato, the town's deputy commissioner of public works, said the most pressing issue is taxes.

"As a village mayor, I kept property taxes flat while improving services and cutting waste," he said. "As your next Town of Oyster Bay tax receiver, I will help you challenge the county tax assessment of your home for free and help you fill out tax exemption forms."

As for Hignell, the Democrat said his first priority is to modernize how taxes are collected, including implementing new online payment options.

"I will implement new forms of communication so that the elderly and our veterans are never at risk of losing their homes due to missed dates," he said.