Port Washington 2019 Elections: Candidates, Polling Places, Hours

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — Voters will head to the polls Tuesday in Port Washington 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, Delia DeRiggi-Whitton and Dina De Giorgio 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 Port Washington 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 11

In District 11, which includes Sands Point, Port Washington, Roslyn, Roslyn Harbor, Glen Head, Glenwood, Sea Cliff and Glen Cove, voters will select from three candidates: incumbent Democrat Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, Republican challenger James Greenberg and Libertarian challenger Blay Tarnoff.

DeRiggi-Whitton, a former Glen Cove city councilwoman, identified transparency as the single most pressing issue facing the county.

"I will continue to work diligently to secure approval for legislation that eliminates waste, fraud and abuse from Nassau County's procurement process, she wrote.

Greenberg, meanwhile, said cost of living and "oppressive" property taxes were most pressing.

"When elected I plan to exam spending in regard to consulting firms, programs and services that may be duplicating or overlapping services and tighten the county's belt when it comes to spending," he wrote.

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 - District 6 Council

Republican Dina De Giorgio seeks her third four-year term as District 6 councilwoman against Democratic challenger Mariann Dalimonte, the executive director of the Greater Port Washington Business Improvement District.

The district consists of Port Washington, including the villages of Baxter Estates, Manorhaven, Port Washington North and Sands Point. It also includes the villages of Flower Hill, Munsey Park, Plandome, Plandome Heights and Plandome Manor.

See also: How Council Candidates Would Revitalize Downtown Port Washington

Reducing cost of living — while maintaining and improving quality of life — is De Giorgio's top priority for the district.

"It is no secret it is incredibly expensive to live in North Hempstead, particularly as changes have been passed from Washington and Albany that have increased our tax burden," she said. "I believe it is the job of local government to insulate residents and not increase the already overwhelming tax burden of our federal and state governments."

Similarly, Dalimonte said "enormously high" cost of living and rising taxes are forcing middle class families to struggle — or even leave.

"The town board needs to continue to hold the line on taxes and ensure that our community can remain affordable," she said.