Rockland candidate forum Wednesday: How to watch, who is running

Nancy Cutler, Rockland/Westchester Journal News
·3 min read
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The Spring Valley and Nyack Branches of the NAACP and The Journal News/lohud.com are hosting a virtual candidates forum.

Candidates vying to represent areas that include Rockland County in the U.S. Congress, and the state Senate and Assembly are invited to participate. Candidates will be asked about how they would serve Rockland residents and address the issues that impact the region.

The forum takes place at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, via Zoom. Questions will be presented by Paul Adler and Sonia Tracey, who are part of the civic engagement committees of the NAACP chapters in Nyack and Spring Valley, respectively, as well as lohud.com veteran reporter Steve Lieberman.

Here's what to know, and what races will be discussed:

How to watch, take part

The candidates forum will be streamed live and will be available for review. The information is available directly on the Nyack and Spring Valley chapter Facebook pages.

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The direct Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85231795858?pwd=OGVUaXpzcUY5OXBPZUN2Um9VbmFUQT09

Meeting ID: 852 3179 5858 and Passcode: 832379

To submit questions, email NyackSVNAACP@Gmail.com or call 845-362-6227, or 845-572-1432.

17th Congressional District

Redistricting has changed the parameters of the district, currently held by Rep. Mondaire Jones. Members of the U.S. House of Representatives serve two-year terms. The position pays $174,000 a year.

The 17th District includes all of Rockland, Putnam, Westchester north of I-287, and three Dutchess municipalities.

The candidates are:

  • Sean Patrick Maloney, current U.S. representative in the 18th District, running on the Democratic and Working Families lines.

  • Mike Lawler, current member of the New York State Assembly representing District 97, on the Republican and Conservative lines.

38th state Senate District

Redistricting added Haverstraw town to Ramapo, Clarkstown and Orangetown to make up the 38th District. The district also no longer extends across the river, so does not include any other county.

Members of the state Senate serve two-year terms. The position pays $110,000 a year.

The candidates are:

  • Elijah Reichlin-Melnick, incumbent, running on the Democratic and Working Families lines.

  • Bill Weber, running on the Republican and Conservative lines.

96th state Assembly District

The district includes Haverstraw and Clarkstown, but redistricting reduced its sliver of Ramapo and grew its portion of Orangetown. Nyack and South Nyack, for example, are now included.

Members of the state Assembly serve two-year terms. The position pays $110,000 a year.

The candidates are:

  • Kenneth Zebrowski, the incumbent, running on the Democratic line.

  • Brett Yagel, running on the Republican line.

97th state Assembly District

The 97th includes South Orangetown and eastern Ramapo. With its current Assembly member, Lawler, running for Congress, there is no incumbent.

The candidates are:

  • Eudson Francois, running on the Democratic line.

  • John McGowan, running on the Republican and Conservative lines.

98th state Assembly District

The redistricted 98th encompasses western Ramapo, gaining Airmont and Suffern, and along the western border of Orange County.

  • Karl Brabenac, the incumbent, running on the Republican and Conservative lines.

  • Bruce Levine, running on the Democratic line.

Voting in New York

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Early voting runs Oct. 29 through Nov. 6.

Early voting sites in Rockland are: town halls in Ramapo, Orangetown, Haverstraw and Clarkstown; Stony Point Community Center; Fire Training Center in Pomona and Pascack Community Center in Nanuet.

Early voting sites are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on Nov. 1 and Nov. 3 when sites are open from noon.

Voters can visit any polling site during the early voting period, but Election Day voters can visit only their designated site. You can find your polling place or other voting information at the Rockland County Board of Elections at rocklandgov.com.

Nancy Cutler writes about People & Policy. Follow her on Twitter at @nancyrockland.

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This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Rockland County candidate forum: how to watch, who is running