North Hempstead board rejects limiting funds for mailers before elections

The Town of North Hempstead on Tuesday rejected a measure to limit the use of town resources to distribute mass mailers bearing candidates' names, image and likeness to 60 days before an election.

The board, which is controlled by Republicans, voted 4-3 along party lines. 

Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, a registered Democrat who caucuses with Republicans and voted against the measure, said during the board meeting that "we've made clear that this government looks to educate our residents."

"We have always been improving our programs," DeSena said. "Improving our services and letting our residents know is a good thing and it should not be labeled as some kind of self-promotion."

DeSena said Mariann Dalimonte, the Democratic council member who sponsored the legislation, had brought "politics into town hall" with the proposal.

Dalimonte questioned whether taxpayers should be funding election-season mailers.

"Keeping our constituents informed is essential. It is part of our job," Dalimonte said at the meeting. "But when all of a sudden I get these mailers right before an election, and where have they been for the last four years? ... It bothers me, because I know my hard-earned money paid for this."

Nina Gordon, of Great Neck, said during the meeting that the proposal represented "good government."

"It's simple," Gordon said. "Don't use our tax dollars to promote campaigns and elections."

Dalimonte told Newsday in a phone interview Monday she had received a "surge" in mailers featuring photographs of DeSena and Town Clerk Ragini Srivastava close to the election.

In the Nassau County Legislature, elected officials are prohibited from sending mass government mailers within 45 days of an election — unless the mailers inform residents of a meeting or public event.

DeSena defeated entrepreneur Dave Kerpen, the Democratic candidate for supervisor, on Nov. 4, earning 55.62% of the vote.

DeSena said the mailers were meant to promote important programs for residents, such as a workshop helping seniors identify scams.

"When you offer programs like that, you have to advertise them," she said. "If it's in the fall ... I don't think that denying programs to our residents, or denying advertisement of the program is a bad thing. I think that's good government."

By Joshua Needelman

joshua.needelman@newsday.com

Joshua Needelman covers the Town of North Hempstead for Newsday. A Long Island native and University of Maryland graduate, his work has appeared in publications including The New York Times and The Washington Post.