Election '98
Almost everywhere we look, the mood of the election is dispirited. The Starr investigation and the public's knowledge of how limited and disappointing those it has elected can be has taken the wind out of many sails. Despite the fact that Tuesday's balloting will result in several crucial decisions, the parties and the electorate hardly seem engaged. We should be thankful that it is not a Presidential election year.
Transfer Tax
To be voted upon separately in each of the five East End towns, the Community Preservation Fund would create a new source of funding to preserve farmland, open space, parkland, and historic places by imposing a 2-percent tax on higher-priced real estate sales over a 10-year period. It is expected to raise between $2 million and $3 million a year in East Hampton Town alone, which has already targeted sites for preservation, as has Southampton Town.
East Hampton Town Trustee
The candidates for East Hampton Town Trustee, Lisa Stewart, the Democrat, and Joe Holmes, the Republican, are vying for the unexpired term of the late Gordon Vorpahl. In spite of some petty politicking by others, they have proved themselves sensible, down-to-earth candidates.
United States Representative
A less inspiring race is that to represent the First Congressional District in the House of Representatives, between two-term Republican incumbent Michael P. Forbes and William Holst, a Democrat from Smithtown.
For U.S. Senate
The race between Senator D'Amato and Representative Charles E. Schumer for the United States Senate is one that matters. Yet, again, there has been almost no campaigning for either man locally. Where are the South Fork's Democrats? They seem to have lost the leadership necessary to prove that viable opposition candidates are as necessary a part of a democracy as voting.
The State Senate
The race in the First Senatorial District, in which Republican Senator Kenneth P. LaValle is seeking his 12th term in opposition to John R. Zellner, who is known as Bob, has seen some fireworks despite the power of incumbency. This is due to the energy that the Democratic challenger brings to issues.
For Governor
The power of incumbency certainly is at work in the valiant race of Peter Vallone, who emerged victorious from a bitter Democratic primary, against Gov. George E. Pataki.
Other State Races
Also on the state level are the races for Comptroller and Attorney General. H. Carl McCall, the incumbent Democratic Comptroller, has been responsible and effective in office and should be re-elected.
In The Assembly
As for the State Assembly, the incumbent Republican, Fred W. Thiele Jr., has the election sewed up. Nevertheless, we have listened to what the Democratic challenger, Margaret Eckart, has to say as well as to the views of Marie F. Mulcahy, who is running on the Conservative and Right to Life lines.
County Voting
While Republicans in the Senate staged a filibuster to stop the possibility of campaign finance reform, the Suffolk Legislature, which is dominated by Republicans, forged a measure making public financing available in county elections. It is proposal one on the ballot.
Southampton Ballot
Southampton Town has four propositions on the ballot this year. Proposition one is the Community Preservation Fund and deserves to be approved for all the reasons given above.
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