Legislature Candidates Duke It Out at Debate

Incumbent Suffolk County and his opponent had the opportunity to debate each other at the Hampton Bays Civic Association meeting on Monday evening.

They will face off on Election Day, November 8.

The second district candidates introduced themselves to a packed audience and then responded to two questions prepared by the civic association.

Schneiderman, a former East Hampton Town supervisor who was elected to the Legislature in 2003, said he loves being a representative and takes his job very seriously.

“I am going to continue to fight to keep our taxes from going up,” he said.

Kelly, a small business owner who lives in East Quogue, said he is running mainly for his children.

“There are issues in the county that I am compelled to get involved with,” he said, pointing sex offenders and land preservation.

With introductions made, civic association President Bruce King asked the first question, which dealt with the rising costs of electricity.

Schneiderman said the county has little to no oversight on the Long Island Power Authority, but he said the county has sued LIPA for rate relief.

“I have tried to remove energy surcharges off the LIPA bill, but I have not gotten the support to do that,” said Schneiderman. “I am sure there is more the county can do.

Schneiderman said while the county does not have authority over LIPA, it can work to keep county taxes at bay, which he said he has done during his eight-year tenure in the Legislature.

Kelly said he understands the county does not have the power to require LIPA to reduce rates, but he said the county has a significant impact on tax bills and there is more that can be done to reduce taxes.

He said he would look to cut funding for high-density housing projects from the county, which he says impacts school district taxes.

“If these programs are really warranted, let’s build them where the politicians live, not pack us in like sardines,” he said.

The second question concerned septic systems and cesspools.

Schneiderman said the county is looking at different kinds of improved septic systems.

“Hopefully we will be able to approve that,” he said and added that there is so much more that needs to be done, including preserving environmentally sensitive property. He noted that he has recently sponsored legislation to in East Quogue.

Kelly said he would also fight for land preservation, saying he believes Southampton has not been getting its fair share of preservation money.

“The county has put over a hundred million on the North Fork, but we have gotten 60 million dollars," Kelly said. "I don’t know why the numbers are disparate."

Schneiderman rebutted that the “numbers seem like we are doing more in Riverhead, but dollar for dollar, more dollars are being spent on the South Fork as opposed to the North Fork.”

In addition to the legislature candidates debating at the civic meeting, Southampton Town trustee candidates made their voices heard. To find out more, .