S. Farmingdale water district mailing heats up election campaign
BY JOIE TYRRELL
The front page of a recent mailing from the South Farmingdale Water District to its customers touted the assets of commissioner Kurt Ludwig.
It boasted that Ludwig, a North Massapequa resident, not only "hit the ground running his first year in office... he crossed the finish line in first place!"
But Ludwig is running for re-election as commissioner for the water district, and the taxpayer-funded mailer that went out last week just days before Tuesday's election violates campaign laws, says his opponent, Craig Heller.
An attorney for Heller filed suit Friday in Supreme Court in Nassau County asking for the three commissioners of the water district to pay the costs of printing and mailing as well as to prevent them from sending out any other mailings that are political in nature.
"You can't send out a mailer a week before the election and say 'Look at what a great job this guy is doing. Congrats on a great first year. We wish you many more.' If that is not a piece of campaign literature, I have no clue what is," said Steven Schlesinger, the attorney representing Heller, the Democratic challenger.
Ludwig did not return a call seeking comment at his office in the public information office of the Town of Oyster Bay. Leonard Constantinopoli, business manager of the water district, said he had not seen the suit and therefore could not comment on it.
He did say the position is a part-time one, with two public meetings a month and commissioners are paid a $100 stipend per meeting. Their term is three years. They are also eligible for health insurance, he said.
According to the water district's Web site, Ludwig is serving his first term as commissioner for the South Farmingdale Water District.
Schlesinger, who serves as law chairman of the Nassau Democratic County Committee, said Heller has the support of County Executive Thomas Suozzi as part of his effort to consolidate these special districts.
The water district serves 5.4 square miles including South Farmingdale, North Massapequa, some areas of Bethpage and some areas in Seaford.
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4 comments:
But its OK for Newsday earlier in the week to give Heller a boost a week before the race. Newsday never seemed to care about these races in the past. I guess Suozzi said give my guy Heller some press and Newsday bowed down as always.
What did the article say last week?
"In one of the elections, lawyer Craig Heller, who's been working on reorganization proposals with the Democratic executive's office, opposes Kurt Ludwig, a public information official for the Town of Oyster Bay, for a commissioner seat in the South Farmingdale Water District. Broader battle lines are forming; the district in a newsletter argues against the prospect of district consolidations, declaring that "hometown rule makes sense."
Both candidates mentioned with both their positions.
Why does Newsday care now? Because From Albany on down, these districts are an issue. With so many problems in the differnet districts the media is finally paying attentoin.
THIS IS NOTHING BUT BULL. Mr Heller let me ask you, Why if there is such a scandal in the south farmingdale water district,Then why is my water bill so dam low???? Other people that I know pay 3 to 4 times what I pay now.
Also to add where do you {Mr Heller} and you buddy Dave Mejias get off and compare Saddam Hussein to the South farmingdale water district, That is such BULLSHIT!!!
YOU MR HELLER AND YOU BUDDY MEJIAS ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME WITH THE ELECTION SO I GUESS YOU WILL KEEP MAKING UP SHIT TO PRINT!!!
So why are the water rates very low if there is so much misue of tax dollars???? Lets ask Dave Mejias and Craig Heller they have all of the answers right. EVEN IF THE DON'T ,THEY WILL MAKE ONE UP LIKE SCANDAL AT SOUTH FARMINGDALE WATER DISTRICT.
NEWSDAY IS IN BED WITH THESE TWO!!
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