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Schools

District Hosts Meet the Candidates Night

Students and community come together to hear from local, state and federal representatives and their opponents.

Half Hollow Hills West ninth grader Dia Su has had an interest in government and politics since the fourth grade. So the freshman's participation in last evening's Meet the Candidates night at Hills East High School was an early, yet important step in what she hopes might be a career in public service.

"I'm interested in politics, and I like to get involved with the community," Su said.

The event was sponsored by the Half Hollow Hills PTA Council's Legislation Committee and coordinated, in large part, by the students. It featured candidates for several offices—New York State Senate districts 2 and 5, State Assembly districts 9 and 10, and Suffolk County Court and Suffolk County Family Court judges—and was highlighted by two of three candidates running for United States Congress in District 2. Approximately 100 residents, students and staff attended the two-hour event.

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"Every year, we invite all the candidates who are running for office," said Legislation Committee co-chair Nichole DiFatta. Candidates for New York State Governor, and the U.S. Senate were also invited, DiFatta said, but declined to attend. 

Representatives and candidate-hopefuls included Congressman Steve Israel and Constitution Party opponent Anthony Tolda, both of whom fielded numerous questions, ranging from taxes to social security to the overall boundaries of a United States Congressperson.

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(Dix Hills Patch contacted Republican/Conservative Party candidate John Gomez' office and were told that Gomez could not attend due to a previously scheduled event.)

Other attendees included District 2 State Senator John Flanagan and his opponent, Ira Bernstein; District 5 State Senator Carol Marcellino and his opponent, Larry Silverman; District 10 State Assemblyman James Conte and his opponent, John Capobianco, District 9 State Assemblyman Andrew Raia; Suffolk County Family Court judge candidates Caren Loguercio, Bernard Cheng and Chris Ann Kelley; and Suffolk County Court judge candidate Toni Bean.

Candidates were given an opportunity for brief opening remarks before fielding questions from the audience. They also made closing remarks. Candidates did not directly address their opponents.

"This forum allows the community to hear all of the candidates,"  Legislation Committee Co-Chair Betty DeSabato said.

This year, the Half Hollow Hills Legislation Committee includes 27 students from both high schools. Throughout the year, they plan and execute several activities, including monthly meetings, legislative invites for guest speakers, and a lobbying day in Albany. There, they meet with New York State representatives to discuss educational funding and school programs.

"The core of the program is that it is the students who do everything," DeSabato said.

"We need to know what's going on," said Hills West senior Lee Gochman. "For the community, they need to meet the people who are going to represent them."

Added Hills East junior Joshua Shinbrot, who also has aspirations for public service, "I want to be a positive influence and make changes."

While this forum is an annual event, Half Hollow Hills' new Director of Social Studies Lorraine Lupinski was attending her first Half Hollow Hills Meet the Candidates night.

"The students that are part of the PTA Legislation Committee work hard and commit themselves," Lupinski said. "This is not a small task. They have a passion … It's enjoyable to sit back and see them [at work]."

Student efforts were not lost on invited guests.

"This community is well represented by its students," Flanagan said. 

"It's awesome," Raia added of the students' efforts, noting that he first thought of public office in the eighth grade after doing an extra credit project on government and politics.

Gabriella DeSabato joined the Legislation Committee last year as a freshman.

"It's my favorite committee. It's different [than other activities]." She added that going to Albany was a highlight of last year's participation, and with her mom being a co-chair, "I never forget when the meetings are."

Matilda Cerniello is a new resident of Dix Hills. She attended the event for the same reason most came: to learn about the candidates.

"I was interested in everything they had to say," Cerniello said. "I was very pleased. They answered a lot of the questions that were asked."

Seven-year resident Abbey Schwartz said he came because "I wanted to see if the candidates' ideas matched mine." He said he was pleased with what he heard, although he was disappointed that more residents didn't attend. Schwartz brought along his son, Zachary Schwartz.

"It's good for him to see what's going on around him and hear other ideas than just those from his parents," the elder Schwartz said. 

And what did the sixth grader learn? "I heard a lot about the bad economy and that people in Albany are making mistakes," he said.

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