Democratic Primary Debates For 1st District Candidates To Air Live On YouTube

Since the typical debate format is not feasible at the moment, the League of Women Voters of Hamptons, Shelter Island and North Fork are sponsoring Democratic Primary Debates that will be held via Zoom and air live on Southampton Town’s SEA-TV’s YouTube page (YouTube.com/SeaTVSouthampton).

“During these socially isolating times, we are trying new ways of communicating with the public,” Barbara McClancy, chair of the Voter Services Committee of the League of Women Voters of the Hamptons, Shelter Island and North Fork, said. “These debates will follow our usual format, but the candidates, the League moderator and League timekeeper will all be participating remotely.”

The debates will feature Democratic candidates for the 1st Congressional District and 1st Senatorial District. There is no Republican Party primary on the ballot this June.

The Democratic Congressional Primary Debate will be held on Monday, June 1 at 7 p.m. Candidates include Bridget M. Fleming of Water Mill, an attorney and Suffolk County Legislator; Perry Gershon of East Hampton, a businessman and the Democratic candidate for Congress in 2018; Nancy S. Goroff, Ph.D., of Stony Brook, chair of the chemistry department at Stony Brook University; and Gregory-John Fischer of Calverton, a business strategist.

The Democratic NYS Senate Primary Debate will be held on Monday, June 8, at 7 p.m. Candidates include Laura A. Ahearn of Port Jefferson, attorney and executive director of the Crime Victims Center; Valerie M. Cartright of Port Jefferson Station, a Brookhaven Town Councilmember; Skyler Johnson of Mt. Sinai, political science student at Suffolk County Community College; Tommy-John Schiavoni of North Haven, a Southampton Town Councilmember; and Nora Higgins of Ridge, Regional Coordinator of PEF (Public Employees Federation).

“We hope voters will take the time to view these two debates on YouTube, and we urge all citizens to then use their right to vote,” McClancy added. “For even in these difficult times, as we like to say in the League, ‘Democracy is Not a Spectator Sport.'”

The public can submit questions for candidates in advance, which will be posed by the LWV debate moderator, Cathy Peacock of Amagansett. Questions must be submitted by Thursday, May 28, to LWV Voter Services Committee chair Barbara McClancy at [email protected].

The debates will air live on SEA-TV’s Youtube channel and will be posted to SEA-TV’s YouTube channel the following day.

The New York State primary is on Tuesday, June 23.

For ballot information and information on the primary candidates, visit Vote411.org. For questions, call the Suffolk County Board of Elections at 631-852-4500. For more information, visit www.elections.ny.gov. For more information about League of Women Voters of Hamptons, Shelter Island and North Fork, visit www.lwvny.org.