New 'Moderate' line taking shape in some Nassau local races

Daily Point

19 Democrats file petitions to offer an alternative for middle-of-the-road voters

For those who don’t want to vote Democrat or Republican in local elections this November, there will be a new alternative on the ballot in some races.

Moderate.

Nassau Democratic Party chair Jay Jacobs told The Point that the idea of an alternative party arose to give people another option.

"The bulk of Nassau voters are moderate," Jacobs said. "There are many voters, particularly Republicans, who may not want to vote for their own candidate on the Republican line but might also be averse to voting on the Democratic line. We want to give them another option, since our candidates are moderate candidates."

According to a list obtained by The Point, 19 Democratic candidates across Nassau County have filed petitions to also run on the Moderate line in November. Candidates for countywide offices top the list, including Seth Koslow, the Democrats’ pick for county executive; Nicole Aloise, who is running for district attorney; county comptroller candidate Wayne Wink; and Joylette Williams, who is running to become county clerk.

Democratic picks for Hempstead and North Hempstead town supervisor and clerk, one North Hempstead council member candidate, and Glen Cove mayoral and city council contenders are all on the list as well.

Three county legislature candidates, including current Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, the only incumbent, also have filed to run on the Moderate line.

Getting a spot on the new line wasn’t based on whether a candidate’s policy positions are in line with a moderate way of thinking. Instead, it was solely a matter of who was able to, or chose to, obtain the signatures necessary to get on the ballot.

Those who are not on the new Moderate line are still moderates, Jacobs said, but just didn’t file petitions.

"They just didn’t choose to do the work" to get on the new line, Jacobs said.

But at least one Nassau Democratic official said the fact that only some candidates will have the new party line diluted the meaning of it for everyone.

"It’s all make-believe and the joke’s on us," the official said.

The petitions for those on the Moderate line face some general objections. The Nassau Board of Elections is waiting to see whether specific objections to the petitions are filed, in which case the board will have to research them and make a determination. The deadline for those objections is Thursday.

While Jacobs also chairs the state Democratic Party, the new ballot line will apply only to Nassau candidates this year. Jacobs said the effort was born out of a desire to give voters an alternative to either party "rather than staying home."

"I’m working very hard to demonstrate to Democrats that we are not a party of the left," Jacobs said. "We are a moderate party. That’s what I believe we are, certainly out here in the suburbs." 

— Randi F. Marshall randi.marshall@newsday.com

Pencil Point

Oh man!

For more cartoons, visit www.newsday.com/junenationalcartoons

Subscribe to The Point here and browse past editions of The Point here.