Potshots in the Hempstead supervisor race

The Hempstead Town race for supervisor between Democratic incumbent Laura Gillen and Republican Tax Receiver Don Clavin is probably the most competitive in Nassau this year.

Although District Attorney Madeline Singas, the Democratic incumbent, tops the ticket, her opponent Francis McQuade, who is running on the Republican line, has little name recognition or money.

That leaves the two major parties to fight for Long Island's prime political plum: supervisor of the most populated town on Long Island and possibly the nation.

Republicans have spent money on ads and flyers complaining that Gillen voted against a tax cut approved by the Republican-controlled town board last year.  Democrats retaliated by alleging that Clavin was just another cog in the wheels of the Nassau Republican corruption machine, noting recent convictions of Republicans : Former County Executive Ed Mangano, Former Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto Former Hempstead Town Board member Ed Ambrosino and former state senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos. (Former Democratic State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and former Democratic North Hempstead Town Leader Gerard Terry weren't mentioned.)

Then Gillen was linked to "Extreme Left-Wing radicals" NYC Mayor Bill DeBlasio and Congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar.  Clavin (see above) was connected to concessionaire Butch Yamali, who allegedly has not paid required rent to Hempstead for running the town-owned Malibu beach club--an allegation Yamali denies.

Now that law enforcement officials, including a Singas representative, have expressed deep concern over alleged reforms to the state's criminal justice laws approved by Albany's new Democratic majority, Republicans are tying Gillen to "Extreme Democrat" Long Island senators who voted for changes. (See above)  The reforms include eliminating bail for non-violent criminals, allowing desk appearance tickets for a host of alleged crime suspects, and giving suspects greater access their victim's identity and address.

A Gillen representative did not return a request for comment.

Clavin said in response to Malibu beach mailer: "It shows real desperation. Laura Gillen can't run away from the fact that she voted against a tax cut and tried to increase taxes."

He added, "I have three small kids so who has time to relax at the beach?"