League of Women Voters Hosts Candidate Debates

The League of Women Voters will host debates Tuesday evening between candidates running for federal and state offices serving parts of the North Shore of Long Island.

The event takes place at 6 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Manhasset, starting at 6 p.m.  

The first debate features the four candidates vying to represent the redrawn U.S. Congressional District 3, which was held by Peter T. King until the 2012 redistricting.

Sparring for this District 3 seat will be the former-District 2 Democrat incumbent, Rep. Steve Israel, D-Dix Hills, who is also endorsed by the Independent party and the Working Families Party; Republican (R) Stephen A. Labate, R-Deer Park, also endorsed by the Conservative party; Michael McDermott, L-Huntington Station; and Anthony Tolda from the Constitution party. 

Incumbent state Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel (D, I, WFP-Great Neck) will face her challenger, Richard E. Stiek (R, C-Port Washington). The race is for the 16th Assembly District seat; the debate is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The final debate, at around 8 p.m., will be between incumbent state Senator Jack Martins (R, C- Mineola) and his opponent Daniel S. Ross. (D, WFP-Manhasset). The race is for the 7th state Senate district.

The 3rd New York Congressional District includes all of the North Shore of Nassau County plus towns and villages on the North Shore of Suffolk County from Cold Spring Harbor to Smithtown, and the eastern north shore of Queens from Malba to Little Neck down to Bellaire.  

The 7th state Senatorial District includes all communities in the Town of North Hempstead as well as areas around Mineola, New Hyde Park and Hicksville.  

The 16th state Assembly District includes most of North Hempstead including the Port Washington and Great Neck peninsulas.  

The best way to determine which election districts serve you, is to log on to the LWV’s new interactive website at VOTE411.org and type in your address.                

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation is located at 48 Shelter Rock Road in Manhasset between Northern Boulevard and the Long Island Expressway. Entrance is through white gates on the west side of the road. Small sandwich wraps, along with coffee and cookies, will be available by 5:30 pm for those who do not have time to eat before the first 6 p.m. debate. 

These debates are sponsored, free of charge, as a pubic service by the  which also serves surrounding communities on the north shore of Nassau County and parts of Queens – and for theses debates, the western north shore of Suffolk County.                                                                                                      

The League of Women Voters is a non-profit, non-partisan organization, of women and men, dedicated to promoting political responsibility through informed and active participation in government.