Nov 5, 2009 7:52 pm US/Eastern
Taxes Dominate Tight Race For Nassau Co. Executive
Unpopular Energy Tax Makes For Startlingly Close Race Between Incumbent Dem Suozzi, GOP's Mangano
MINEOLA, N.Y. (CBS) ―
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Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi (file)
CBS
The rise of Republicans took Democrats by storm this election week. There were stunning upsets in Nassau County, where disenchanted voters were frustrated by a new Home Energy Tax.
The new Republican majority won't even be seated until January, but already plans are in the works to repeal an unpopular tax.
"The Home Energy Tax that the Democrats enacted in June was the straw that broke the camel's back," Peter Schmitt, Nassau County Legislator and Majority Leader and Presiding Officer-Elect, said. "The residents of Nassau County have had it."
"They are nickel-and-diming us – Suozzi with the oil tax, anyone with home heating oil has to pay it," Long Island resident James Fitzgerald said. "It's taking every penny we have."
A pledge to repeal the 2.5 percent sales tax on home energy sources was the centerpiece of Ed Mangano's campaign as the Republican nominee for county executive.
"When everybody's tightening their belts at home, Nassau County government turned around and said, 'listen, give us more money each and every month on your utility bill – electric, oil, propane, natural gas, even firewood,'" Mangano said. "It's a ridiculous tax."
When asked about her biggest complaint, Nassau County voter Ann Sullivan was quick to spell out here biggest issue.
"It's taxes!" Sullivan said. "And how about thinking about us, the people who have to pay them?"
That's what brought schoolteacher Pearl Lewis to the polls.
"The taxes are extremely too high on Long Island," Lewis said.
But Democrats say they approved the Home Energy Tax as a fair and honest way to keep Nassau's bond rating solid and keeps services running. However, those taxes now may have Thomas Suozzi's political future hanging in the balance.
"No matter what happens in this race, I will not allow Nassau County to become the fiscal basket case it was before I came into office, and before the Democrats turned this place around," Suozzi said.
If the Home Energy Tax is repealed, the new lawmakers must come up with a solid plan to recoup a $40 million gap.
Pending the recount for Nassau County Executive, Tom Suozzi leads by just 237 votes. A court battle is possible once the final results are known later this month.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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