VIDEO: ‘Meet the Candidates’ Night in Levittown

Residents had the chance to learn more about candidates in the November 5 general election at “Meet the Candidates Night” Tuesday at the Levittown Property Owners Association meeting, discussing various issues impacting local residents.

Legislator Dennis Dunne Sr. (R-Levittown), who serves the 15th District, was the first to speak. Dunne discussed how rising taxes almost forced his parents to move to Florida and his fear that others are planning to move.

“Every time taxes went up, they were thinking about moving,” Dunne said. "And you know what, going to Florida and seeing them twice a year really wasn’t enticing… I want to keep friends and neighbors here, too. I don’t want to see ‘for sale’ signs up.”

“Fortunately we had a county executive that, in the past four years, provided four no-tax increase budgets,” Dunne said.

Next up to the podium was Jonathan Clarke, the Democratic candidate for the 15th District Legislature, followed by Jasmine Garcia-Vieux, the Democratic candidate for Hempstead Town Clerk.

“I live here, I work here and I want to continue to raise my family here, but I cannot continue to do that if we continue to maintain the status quo,” Garcia-Vieux said. “Like Jonathan said, I think it’s time for a change.”

Diane Madden, the Democratic candidate for Hempstead Town Council, won a case against the Town in January 2013 after two ongoing years of litigation after she was banned from the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter. The East Meadow resident is running to  “shine a light on the waste and abuse in the Hempstead Town government.”

“I learned very quickly that it was a republican club with some dead animals inside,” Madden said of the animal shelter. “The animals were not getting services, they were not seeing the money, and yet there was a $7 million budget.”

Gary Hudes, Councilman for the 6th District, spoke next.

“I’m available seven days a week, all hours of the day and night,” Hudes said. “You run into me at King Kullen and want to talk about a problem, we talk. You want to talk to me on the weekend, email me, they come directly to my home. I have been there for you.”

Felix Procacci, the Democratic candidate for Hempstead Town Supervisor, was the last to speak. 

The general election will be held on Tuesday, November 5. The last day to register to vote is October 11 and residents can find their polling locations at the board of elections website. Absentee ballots can also be found online here. 

View all of the Democratic candidates online here and the Republican candidates here.