OCTOBER 2019 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 9
2019 ELECTIONS RACES TO WATCH
Suffolk County Comptroller John M. Kennedy. Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone.
BY TIMOTHY BOLGER
With national attention focused on
the 2020 presidential race, local political
candidates are campaigning hard
in the final weeks before Election Day
to counter the oft-lower voter turnout
in such off-year elections.
In the most high-profile race on Long
Island this year, Democratic Suffolk
County Executive Steve Bellone is
seeking a third term to finish the
work he’s started and Republican
Suffolk County Comptroller John M.
Kennedy is touting his fiscal background
as what the county needs.
In the most pivotal race across the
county line, Democratic Nassau
County District Attorney Madeline
Singas is running for re-election for
the first time against Republican
attorney Frank McQuade. That’s in
addition to dozens of seats on ballots
in both county legislatures, towns,
and the judiciary — elected offices
that often hold more sway over daily
life on LI than the presidency.
The races come amid the first general
election since New York State election
reforms — most notably, enacting
early voting that allows voters to cast
ballots starting Oct. 26 — went into
effect. The goal of early voting is to
improve the state’s ranking as 41st in
the nation in voter turnout, according
to a 2018 report by the New York State
Senate Democratic Policy Group.
“For too long, people have been
disenfranchised by limiting voting
to one day per year,” said Suffolk
County Legislature Presiding Officer
DuWayne Gregory (D-Amityville).
“The more opportunity people have
to participate the more they will.
Allowing early voting and extending
the number of days and times to vote,
will address low voter turnout and
bring more people into the process.”
A number of Libertarian candidates
are also running on the minor-party
line for various Suffolk offices, include
Gregory John Fischer for county
executive, anti-red-light camera
activist Steven Ruth, who’s running
against Legis. Thomas Muratore
(R-Ronkonkoma) and his Democratic
challenger David Bligh. Fellow Libertarian
photo traffic enforcement
opponent Lynda Frego is running
against Legis. Rudolph Sunderman
(R-Mastic), who pleaded not guilty
to felony perjury and misdemeanor
ethics charges in July, and his Democratic
challenger Daryl Edelstein.
Also among the races to watch in
Suffolk, Republican former Southampton
Town Supervisor Linda
Kabor, who’s 2009 re-election bid
was undone after she was arrested
for driving while intoxicated — a
charge of which she was cleared — is
challenging Legis. Bridget Fleming
(D-Noyack).
Election Day falls on Nov. 5 this year.
To find your local polling place,
contact the Nassau or Suffolk county
board of elections.
IN THE NEWS
“The more opportunity people have to participate
the more they will,” said DuWayne Gregory.
Nassau County District Attorney
Madeline Singas.
Republican Nassau DA challenger
Frank McQuade.
/LONGISLANDPRESS.COM
