Uncontested races on Long Island this year include Suffolk DA, legislators and a host of judicial races
Early voting at Yes We Can Community Center in Westbury on Oct. 25. Credit: Morgan Campbell
More than two dozen races on the ballot in Nassau and Suffolk counties Tuesday are uncontested, including top-of-the-ballot contests for Suffolk district attorney and sheriff, two town supervisor spots and a host of judicial posts after Long Island's two major political parties agreed to cross-endorse candidates, records show.
As in previous years, the respective GOP and Democratic leaders of both counties agreed to back largely equal slates of candidates in judicial districts.
But this year's ballot, predominantly in Suffolk, expands the list of uncontested races to include nearly a dozen executive or legislative races, mostly on the East End.
Critics contend the cross-endorsements — one party agreeing not to run an opposition candidate or not backing a candidate running from their own party — deny voters a choice.
Party leaders, however, argue the moves show the value of political cooperation to ensure that only the best candidates keep or win their races.
Here's what voters need to know about uncontested races.
How many races on the ballot Tuesday are uncontested?
Of the 67 races on the ballot in Suffolk County, a total of 19, or more than 28%, are uncontested.
These include races for district attorney, sheriff, town supervisor in East Hampton and Southampton, four town highway superintendents, two races for assessor, one county legislative district, along with eight contests for County Court, Family Court, District Court judge or for town justice.
Nassau's ballot will include six uncontested or cross-endorsed races for County Court, Family Court, District Court or Surrogate Court.
Why are there no contested races for Suffolk County district attorney or sheriff?
Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, a Republican running for a second term, will run unopposed Tuesday, as will Sheriff Errol D. Toulon Jr., a Democrat seeking a third term. Toulon is cross-endorsed by the Democratic and Conservative parties while Tierney is running unopposed, backed by the Republican and Conservative parties.
Suffolk County Democratic Party chairman Rich Schaffer said the lack of opponents for the county's top elected law enforcement officials was part of an agreement with the county Republican committee.
"Like the Republicans did not field a candidate against Sheriff Toulon, we didn't field a candidate against DA Tierney based on how well the two are working together to protect our quality of life here in Suffolk County," Schaffer said.
Suffolk GOP chairman Jesse Garcia did not respond to requests for comment.
Why are so many judicial races in both counties uncontested?
Nassau County Democratic Party chairman Jay Jacobs said cross-endorsing candidates for judicial posts makes sense because the ethics requirements of campaigning for a judgeship do not allow for a candidate to discuss policy issues that would distinguish them from their opponent.
"Practically speaking, yes, there are negatives," Jacobs said of cross-endorsements. "But the argument that we're taking decision-making power away from the public is a false argument. It's not true. They don't have any decision making when they cannot hear from the candidate about any issue that relates to the job they're going for."
Jacobs adds the cross-endorsement process has also evened up the political balance between Democrats and Republicans in the county court system, which in the past had been overwhelmingly Republican.
"From the Democratic side, it's allowed us to gain tremendous amount of diversity — more women and more minorities on the bench than ever before," he said.
In a statement, Nassau Republican Party chairman Joe Cairo said the GOP committee "has endorsed a host of very competent and impressive judicial candidates who are also backed by the Nassau Democratic Party. The overwhelming criterion in endorsing these candidates is the commitment of the individual candidates to upholding the law and impeccable judicial credentials."
What do critics say about cross endorsements?
Critics, including Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause New York, a government watchdog group, contend that if an election has no competition, people believe their vote doesn't matter.
"It is little wonder that increasing numbers of voters are refusing to register with a political party, when parties are refusing to nominate their own candidates," Lerner said. "Voters deserve choices at the ballot box."
Are any judicial races on the ballot Tuesday contested?
Technically, one race is contested. But just barely.
In the 10th Judicial District, which covers both counties, there are nine candidates running for eight spots, each with a 14-year term.
Eight of the nine candidates are cross-endorsed by Democrats and Republicans. Meanwhile, a ninth candidate, Matthew McDonough, an attorney from Babylon, is running only on the Conservative Party line.
Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.
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