1st Congressional District Candidates And State Senate Candidates To Square Off In Zoom Debates

The League of Women Voters (LWV) of the Hamptons, Shelter Island and North Fork will present Zoom debates for candidates of both the 1st Congressional District and 1st Senatorial District this October.

“At a time when we can’t hold debates in our usual venues, we are delighted to be able to still provide the public with the opportunity to see the candidates debate,” expressed Estelle Gellman, co-president of League of Women Voters of the Hamptons, Shelter Island & North Fork. “One of the advantages of a virtual debate is that seating is unlimited, and we invite everyone to attend.”

The debate between the two Congressional candidates, incumbent Congressman Lee Zeldin (Rep.) of Shirley and challenger Nancy Goroff, Ph.D. (Dem.) of Stony Brook, former chair of the chemistry department at Stony Brook University, will be held on Monday, October 19 at 7:00 p.m. Co-sponsored by the LWV of Brookhaven and the LWV of Smithtown, it will stream live on Southampton Town’s SEA-TV YouTube channel (www.youtube.com) and will be posted to Southampton Town’s SEA-TV YouTube channel afterwards.

On Tuesday, October 20, the debate for the New York State Senate (S.D. #1) seat, formerly held by longtime State Senator Kenneth LaValle, who is retiring, will commence at 7:00 p.m. Candidates include Laura Ahearn (Dem.) of Port Jefferson, attorney and executive director of the Crime Victims Center, and Anthony Palumbo (Rep.) of New Suffolk, currently NYS Assemblyman for the 2nd A.D. The debate will also stream live on Southampton Town’s SEA-TV YouTube channel and be posted to the YouTube page afterwards.

During the debates, the candidates will make timed opening and closing statements, as well as answer queries from the public, LWV and press. Those interested in submitting a question must do so by Saturday, October 17, to LWV Voter Services Committee chair Barbara McClancy at [email protected] .

Earlier this year, the League of Women Voters of the Hamptons, Shelter Island and North Fork held a successful duo of Zoom debates leading up to the New York State primary elections in June. “Seeing and hearing the responses of our candidates in debate helps us make an educated choice about whom we want to represent our interests in government,” stated Barbara McClancy, chair of the League’s Voter Services Committee.

Early voting will be held from Saturday, October 24 through Sunday, November 1, at any of the 12 Suffolk County sites prior to the general election on Tuesday, November 3.

East Hampton Town residents interested in voting early may do so at Windmill Village (219 Accabonac Road, East Hampton), while Southampton Town residents may do so at Stony Brook Southampton University campus gym (70 Tuckahoe Road, Southampton). On the North Fork, Southold Town residents can vote early at Southold Senior Center (750 Pacific Street, Mattituck) and for Riverhead Town residents, early voting will take place at Riverhead Senior Center (60 Shade Tree Lane). There is no early voting site on Shelter Island.

For more information about the debates, visit lwv.org. For more information about early voting or absentee ballot applications, contact the Suffolk County Board of Elections at 631-852-4500 or www.suffolkvotes.com.