Bellmore-Merrick civics sponsor Meet the Candidates night

In their 13th year hosting Meet the Candidates night, civic members have the process “down to a science,” said Berta Weinstein, vice president of the South Merrick Community Civic Association.
On Oct. 23, candidates running in the upcoming election were greeted by a full house of residents at the Town of Hempstead’s Golf Clubhouse in Merrick. The annual event is organized by four civic groups: SMCCA, the North Merrick Civic Association, the North Bellmore Civic Council and the South Bellmore Civic Association.
Voters from the Bellmore and Merrick communities had a chance to hear a quick five-minute pitch from some of the candidates running for town supervisor, town clerk, town receiver of taxes, town board, Nassau County Legislator and Nassau County District Attorney.
After introducing themselves, certain candidates picked a question out of hat, which came from a member of the audience. Among the issues discussed were taxes, disparaging mailers, modernizing government and infrastructure.
The candidates in attendance were, for town supervisor: Laura Gillen, Don Clavin and Diane Madden; for town clerk: Sylvia Cabana; for receiver of taxes: Chandra Ortiz and Jeanine Driscoll; for the town board’s 5th councilmanic district: Christopher Carini and Lora Webster; for Nassau County’s 5th Legislative District: Debra Mulé and Daniel Salamone; for Nassau County’s 19th Legislative District: Steve Rhoads and Jill Levine; for Nassau County’s 13th Legislative District: Tom McKevitt and Jennifer Rosenkrantz; and for Nassau County District Attorney: Francis McQuade.