Great Neck 2019 Elections: Candidates, Polling Places, Hours

GREAT NECK, NY — Voters will head to the polls Tuesday in Great Neck to cast their ballots for key Nassau County and Town of North Hempstead positions, including district attorney, legislator, supervisor and council. Incumbents Madeline Singas, Judi Bosworth, Ellen Birnbaum and Veronica Lurvey are just some of the names 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 breakdown of the Great Neck ballot.

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 10

In District 10, Democrat Ellen Birnbaum seeks a fourth term against Helene Sherman, who is running on the Republican line. The district includes communities in the Great Neck peninsula, as well as Manhasset Hills, the Village of North Hills, and parts of Albertson, Garden City Park, Herricks, Manhasset, North New Hyde Park and Searingtown.

Birnbaum said public safety is the most pressing issue facing her district.

"I have advocated for years for the reopening of the sixth precinct," she said. "Renovations of the building are nearly complete and the precinct is once again a reality for the community."

Sherman did not fill out the questionnaire, but the Thomaston attorney has said there's "too much duplicative government." She told Newsday the county should look into eliminating jobs and that she supports looking into getting rid of incorporated villages.

Town of North Hempstead Supervisor

Judi Bosworth, the incumbent Democratic supervisor, seeks her fourth two-year term against Republican challenger David Redmond.

Supervisor is one of the most significant and powerful roles in local politics, acting as presiding officer over meetings of the town board and voting on matters before the panel. The supervisor carries out board decisions, fields resident concerns and acts as treasurer of the town, representing it in its financial affairs.

Bosworth said residents are most concerned about high taxes.

"Taxpayers want to know that elected officials are using their hard-earned tax dollars wisely, and my fiscally conservative budgets, Aaa bond rating, and delivery of services show these are my priorities as well," she wrote in her Patch questionnaire.

Redmond said a "shortfall in leadership" was the most pressing issue facing the county. Particularly in "key areas of project management and hiring," including a slow rollout of online features for the building department.

"I intend to use my technical background to guide the town into the 21st century of governing and resident services," he said. "Most importantly, we can improve our quality of life with innovations for government without losing a human touch."

Town of North Hempstead Receiver of Taxes

Charles Berman, the incumbent Democrat who was first elected in 2011, seeks a fourth term against Republican challenger Ron Rochester.

The receiver oversees the yearly mailing of more than 180,000 tax bills, the transmission of 100,000 electronic bills to tax service groups, and the receipt and processing of more than 288,000 tax payments, including over 10,000 in-person payments made at Town Hall and at community collection sites.

Berman identified reassessment as his highest priority.

"I will continue to help residents understand how they might lower their property taxes through my community outreach programs," he said. "I will explain to the public not only how to file a grievance but what's going on behind the scenes at the assessment department."

Rochester said the "antiquated" North Hempstead website is the biggest issue facing the town.

"It is difficult to navigate," he said. "The site does not show your payments and amount of tax due and the site does not accurately identify lot numbers."

Town of North Hempstead Council - District 4

Veronica Lurvey, a Democrat who was appointed to the vacant council seat in January, seeks election against Republican David Yaudoon Chiang. The 4th District includes the unincorporated areas of Manhasset and Great Neck, as well as the villages of Great Neck, Kensington, Kings Point, North Hills, Roslyn, Roslyn Estates and Thomaston.

Lurvey, like many candidates running this year, said taxes and cost of living are among the most pressing issues.

"I will continue to work with Supervisor Bosworth and the town board to keep the town tax rate as low as possible," she said. "This means making sure that the town is running efficiently and that money is spent wisely."

Chiang agreed that taxes are the most pressing topic. "Soaring taxes," he said, are unsustainable.

"Governments have to live within a budget, just like the families that we serve," he added. "I will work with all departments to find innovative solutions to increase level of service to our residents without putting extra burdens on them."