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112LIpandp2_2025-11-02-12-41-22

Welcome back to this Vote 2025 voters guide edition of Power and Politics. I'm Richerrapi. For some races in this election, well, there isn't a race. Candidates on the ballot and their name, that's the only thing you'll see. So are we really going to be voting or is the choice already made for us? News tell's Tama Ponton reports. That's always driven me nuts. Pat Ryan of Smithtown says he can hardly believe there are more than a dozen uncontested races on the ballot in Suffolk. I can't believe that we don't have somebody to contest the vote. There should be enough people that want to vote and, you know, serve, and it doesn't make any sense to me. In Suffolk, the district attorney and sheriff are running unopposed, so are three judges in Nassau. It isn't good for democracy. Political scholars say many times incumbents are so popular, no one wants to run against them. Enough money or party support couldn't be raised, and in some instances, candidates are endorsed by both parties. If they're endorsed by both parties, then they're universally liked by all political stripes, and that means that they work across political lines. Farmingdale State College associate provost Christopher Malone says he is surprised about the lack of competition at the top of the ticket in Suffolk. I think the most interesting one is the Suffolk County District Attorney. You would expect that to be a race where the Democrats would have fielded a candidate, but they didn't. Malone says some political data shows that when voters don't have a choice, they stay home. What will be interesting on the night of elections we'll see the total number of votes for some candidates versus the uncontested contested candidates to see how many people objected to the only candidate running by simply not voting for them. I'm Tama Ponton, News 12. Well, those voters who do show up in Suffolk will have to decide about extending term limits for local lawmakers or at least changing those terms. The battle over yes or no in Suffolk is heated and more involved than you might think. We spoke with Suffolk leaders past and present about whether you should vote yes or. No on proposition question 2 on the ballot. A yes vote would double the term a county legislator serves from 2 years to 4. The suffolk GOP-led measure comes on the heels of a new state law that switches most local elections to even years. Someone would run this year legislator 2025 they'd have to run again in 2026 to get on the even year and then run again in 2028, so they would be running three times in four years, which is crazy. This referendum has absolutely nothing to do with term limits. Term limits are already on the books in Suffolk. They're going to remain whether or not this proposition passes or fails. Republicans say the law would benefit Democrats, meaning that even year election law and local issues would be overshadowed by national and state politics. They're still fighting it in court. All right, let's take a look now at the balance of power in the Suffolk legislature, where right now Republicans currently have a 12 member supermajority. Here are some of the key races we're watching in Suffolk now in the 1st district. Freshman Republican legislator Katherine Stark is facing a challenge from Democrat. Greg Dorosky in the 5th district, Stephen Englebright, the longtime state lawmaker currently serving in the legislature, he's running for re-election against Republican Laura Endris, and in the 16th, Democrat Rebecca Sannon, she is being challenged by former Huntington Town supervisor Chad Lupanacci. Staying in Suffolk now, this next campaign has a much different feel than you might think. The race for town supervisor in Huntington pits Republican incumbent Ed Smith against Democratic challenger Cooper Macko. Smith and Macko are not just opponents, they're actually neighbors. They tell us they've known each other for 20 years. Despite their camaraderie, they do disagree politically. I think we really need to address transparency in Huntington. There's been a lot of stories coming out over the past year or so related to the current town board and sort of the lack of transparency for residents. The transparency issue is nonsense. I mean, everything we do is out in public and you know, I think they may have this imaginary idea that we have these closed door meetings, which isn't doesn't happen. There are also a pair of Huntington Town council seats up for grabs this year as well as a race for Huntington Highway superintendent. Republicans currently hold all of those positions. Now to probably the most hotly contested local race this year. It's happening in the town of Hempstead. It features Democrat challenger Joe Sinablo against Republican incumbent John Ferretti. That incumbency is one of the issues at the heart of this race. Supervisor John Ferretti, so nice to meet you. I'm asking for your support on election day. I'm asking for your vote, and I would appreciate it. In the battle to control America's largest township, the two candidates for Hempstead Town supervisor are racing fast and furious to the finish. They had a selection instead of an election. The unelected supervisor just got found guilty in court of violating open meetings law. Where Joe Xinablo goes, he's sounding the alarm on the current administration, as News 12 has reported, the Democrat from Garden City successfully filed a lawsuit in which a judge found the GOP-controlled Hempstead Town board violated open meetings law back in August when it appointed John Ferretti as the town's new supervisor some 30 minutes after the former supervisor Don Clavin resigned. Xenablo says it's business as usual and it's wrong. I'm just highlighting the fact that we do have leadership that's failing the town of Hempstead. We're going to launch an audit on day one operationally and financially, but you got to promise me something though. Good. You got to play me in the game. OK, I love to play you in the game. You look like you'd be good. Uh, you know, we try. We try. Fresh off that controversial August appointment, Freti is now running as an incumbent. That's something my opponent focuses on because he's got no record to run on. The Republican from Levittown instead. To focus on something else. We've cut property taxes for 2026. I promised to do that. We did it. The Chenablo calls the tax cut a shell game, especially after the GOP dominated town board voted to increase taxes by 12% last year. They're dipping into our reserve fund over $50 million reducing $5 million out of a general fund. I think if we have reserves, we should put it back in the pockets of the residents. I made promises. I delivered on them, and the residents are going to recognize it in their wallet.

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112LIpandp3_2025-11-02-12-41-42

Welcome back to the special voter's guide edition of Power and Politics. Let's take a closer look now at the race for North Hempstead town supervisor. The Republican incumbent Jen Deena is facing a challenge from a political newcomer, Democrat Dave Kurpin. For the past 4 years, residents have gotten to know Deena, the two-term Republican from Manhasset, is seeking reelection to lead the town. We cut taxes 3 years in a row, so they are able to keep their hard earned money and while doing that, we have expanded our parks. We have finished long stalled projects we're making our roads safer by paving more. 43 miles of roads are budgeted to be paved this year. That's compared to 8 before I came into office. The Senate's opponent Dave Kerpen is a successful entrepreneur, New York Times bestselling author, Democrat from Port Washington says if elected, he'll focus on transparency, streamlining government, and generating new sources of revenue to cut taxes further. We're going to do a major culture shift in town government. If you're with me, if you're here to serve the people, wonderful. If not, we're gonna help find another place for you to work. Another big idea is to turn North Hempstead Beach Park from the disarray that it's in right now to the crown jewel of North Hempstead and bring in a minor league baseball team. The two candidates are vying for the top spot in a town that was controlled by Democrats for years before De Senna led a red wave in 2021 that today has the GOP in control of the town board. Just west of North Hempstead, the race for New York City mayor is making shock waves across the country and here at home. Front runner Democratic Socialist Zoran Mamdani, former governor Andrew Cuomo, who's running as an independent, and Republican Curtis Lewa are all making their final appeals to voters. Every major poll shows Mamdani with a healthy lead. Political consultant Mike Doyziak says a win for the progressive could have an impact on Albany and Long Island. Well, we should be concerned because the, the way things work now in Albany, uh, for years we had the 9 Long Island Republican senators who could hold up any legislation in Albany, and they protected Long Island's interests, and that no longer exists. Albany now is dominated by New York City Democrats, um, and they're going to pass policies that always affect. Long Island. As a region, we send more money to Albany uh than we get back than any other region in New York. Um, they treat us like their own personal ATM um and that will probably get worse as you get more progressive people in representing New York City.

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A roundup of the races, candidates and issues before Election Day. 

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