Local candidates use forum as 'neutral platform' before Election Day
Hofstra University hosted a forum on Tuesday, Oct. 29, featuring candidates who are running for state and county offices in this year’s general election. Held inside the Helene Fortunoff Theater located in the Monroe Lecture Center on Hofstra’s south campus, the forum was attended by both Hofstra students and members of the public.
The National Coalition of 100 Black Women (NCBW) Long Island Chapter, Inc. and the department of political science at Hofstra University co-sponsored the event, which was part of the Hofstra Votes campaign initiative.
“Civic engagement and community outreach and service are key parts of Hofstra University’s mission,” said Karla Schuster, assistant vice president for University Relations. “This forum fulfills both of those goals.”
“We were honored to partner with the Long Island chapter of 100 Black Women, an organization dedicated to promoting leadership and civic engagement, to provide a forum for students and residents with the opportunity to hear directly from local candidates,” Schuster said.
Barbara McFadden, the chapter’s president, said the NCBW advocates “on behalf of women of African descent in the Long Island community, and, of course, across this country.”
The NCBW, which is nonpartisan and strictly an “advocacy organization,” does not endorse candidates, McFadden said. “This forum has been put together by members of our public policy committee for the sole purpose of providing a neutral platform for candidates to inform us of their positions,” she added.
All 14 candidates in attendance spoke at length throughout the forum; each was given three minutes to introduce themselves before fielding questions from audience members and lastly giving their concluding remarks.
They touched on a wide range of issues, such as nonviolent drug offenses and criminal justice reform, property assessment and tax relief, climate change and environmental protection and labor issues such as unionization.
Democratic Town of Hempstead Supervisor Laura Gillen spoke at the forum, as did her Libertarian opponent Diane Madden.
Democrat Kevan Abrahams, District 1 representative and the minority caucus leader in the Nassau County Legislature, also spoke at the event.
Others candidates in attendance seeking a seat in the Nassau County Legislature included member of both the Republican and Conservative parties Cherice Vanderhall, District 1; Democrat Siela Bynoe, District 2; and Democrat Debra Mulé, District 5.
Republican Tom Tweedy, District 2; Democrat Shari James, District 3; and Democrat Lora Webster, District 5; all of whom are running for the Town of Hempstead Council, spoke at the event as well.
Also in attendance at the forum were member of the Democratic and Working Families Parties Sylvia Cabana, who is running for Hempstead Town Clerk; Republican David Redmond, who is running for North Hempstead Town Supervisor; member of the Conservative and Republican parties Francis McQuade; Democrat Chandra Ortiz, who is running for Tax Receiver for the Town of Hempstead; who is running for Nassau County District Attorney and Libertarian Annette Totten, who is running for State Supreme Court.
“Even the candidates that don’t have [the same] name recognition as some do still have great ideas and solutions in terms of fixing the issues that impact our communities directly,” said Mike Amoruoso, a senior journalism major who attended the forum.
“I thought the most interesting part was hearing the wide variety of ideas about how to make Nassau County a better place to live, work and go to school. Also, to hear about their ways to help solve the issues facing the residents of Nassau County,” said freshman finance major Devin Reck.
“I think Hofstra wanted to host this event in order to keep students [informed] about what’s going on in local government. I think they succeeded in doing this and it was a great idea to host this event,” he added.
