Politics & Government

McKevitt, Devaney Square Off for 17th Assembly District Seat

Both candidates have already engaged in multiple forums with the community.

With Election Day approaching, candidates are pulling out all the stops to make sure that the voters know their agendas. In New York's 17th Assembly District, Thomas Devaney, D-Williston Park, is challenging incumbent Thomas McKevitt, R-East Meadow.

Devaney has been a resident of East Williston for over 30 years, and he received a Bachelor of Science from the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C.  Devaney also serves as a truck lieutenant for the East Williston Fire Department, and he is president of the Volunteer & Exempt Firefighters Benevolent Association of East Williston. Although Devaney is a newcomer to professional politics, he stresses that his "experience in areas of leadership" makes him appropriate for the role of assemblyman.

McKevitt was born in Oceanside but has lived most of his life in East Meadow. McKevitt has been involved in helping local state candidates and officials for the past 20 years, and he is currently serving his third term in office. Describing himself as "a hardworking person that advocates for his community," McKevitt said he believes that Assembly rules need to be changed to allow each member to bring a bill to the floor for a vote. The graduate of Hofstra Law School has been the coach for the Holy Trinity Mock Trial Team for 10 years.

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Q & A With the Candidates

Patch: Many small business owners are struggling to stay afloat in these tough economic times. What can be done to help them?

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Devaney: Repeal the MTA Payroll Tax!  Create tax incentives for small businesses to increase jobs, create workforce housing for employees and direct additional funding to rebuild various main streets across the 17th AD.

McKevitt: We need to repeal the MTA payroll tax.  It not only is a great burden on businesses, but it also is a disincentive to hire new employees.  New jobs are urgently needed, and we should not put obstacles in the way.

Patch: School administrators are concerned about the situation in Albany, particularly when it comes to state aid projections. How can state legislators communicate better and earlier with school districts regarding how much money they can expect from Albany, even if that means promising less during these economic times?

Devaney: Schools are underfunded.  New York is only one of two states in the country that does not allow cooperative contracts.  We need to lift these restrictions in order for school districts to save money.  We need to remove any and all unnecessary unfunded mandates on the districts.

McKevitt: Passing an on-time budget is a necessity in order to inform local school boards as to how much state aid they will be receiving.  The law should be changed so that if there is no budget passed by April 1, then the previous year's budget will automatically be enacted.  School districts will then have some more predictability when going to the voters for budget vote.

Patch: Nassau residents, like most Americans, are concerned about their job security. Those that don't have jobs have found it difficult to find one. What is your plan for creating and sustaining job growth on Long Island?

Devaney: Job creation is a strong point of my platform.  I would like to see new technologies brought to Long Island, as well as tax incentives for local businesses to create jobs.  However, creating jobs is only one part of my plan, if you offer a $40,000 job to a person on Long Island, you need to be able to provide them with a place to live.  With property taxes in excess of $10,000, it would be near impossible to live in the area.  I think we need to create workforce housing to go along with job creation.

McKevitt: The first thing we must do is repeal the MTA payroll tax.  We must also reduce taxes for businesses to make New York State more competitive with surrounding states.  We need to offer tax credits to those businesses which create jobs. 

Patch: How will you address the issue of high property taxes in your district?

Devaney: The senate has passed a property tax cap at four percent, while Gubernatorial Candidate Cuomo supports a tax cap tied into the rate of inflation.  I support these moves, and would like to see a property tax cap pass the assembly.

McKevitt: We must restore the STAR property rebate checks and ensure that Long Island receive its fair share of school aid to hold down property taxes.

Patch: Do you support the initiative for independent redistricting?

Devaney: I have signed onto Ed Koch's NY Uprising Pledge, which includes: Ethics reform, responsible budgeting and independent redistricting.  Anyone who has ever seen a map of the 17th AD can see a reason for independent redistricting.  There are parts of 17 school districts, and 18 fire departments.  There are three assemblymen representing different parts of Merrick.  These are just some of the reasons, why the current districting process doesn't work.

McKevitt: I absolutely support independent redistricting.  I represent 17 different communities, while some of my colleagues represent five.  My district is the poster child for redistricting reform.

Patch: What do you feel about consolidation and the Cuomo bill? How in your view does it need to be revised/ amended, etc.?

Devaney: As an active volunteer firefighter for over 15 years, I have serious reservations about the original Cuomo bill, (New York Government Reorganization and Citizens Empowerment Act) and the affects it could have throughout the 17th AD throughout our district, people depend on certain services from various districts and local governments that could be affected by this bill.  There are significant problems with the new process it created for consolidation or dissolution. There are new bills in place in the Assembly and Senate to insure these serious loop holes are closed up to avoid serious problems in the future. I support these new bills.

McKevitt: I voted against the bill for it was rushed through from introduction to passage in a week with no opportunity for amendments.  It is flawed in many respects.  It requires people to vote on dissolution of districts without knowing whether there will be any cost savings.   I support numerous amendments to the bill which would allow local governments and voters to make informed choices.

Patch: What is your position on whether the state should give approval to permit Nassau County the ability to distribute commercial property tax receipts county-wide to school districts and libraries, which would be help communities in your district that don't have much of a commercial tax base?

Devaney: I would have reservations about the County placing additional taxes onto property owned by school districts and libraries.  Although it may help communities with limited tax base, these special districts will just re-coop the costs incurred by raising the property taxes for their own districts.

McKevitt: Changes to the assessment system must be very carefully studied so as to not adversely affect some communities.  Redistributing the commercial base may help some communities, but could be harmful to others.

Patch: In your opinion, what do you think is the most pressing issue facing local residents? What do you propose to remediate that problem?

Devaney: I think the most pressing issue facing the 17th AD is property taxes.  I have walked door to door in every area of the 17th district and everyone says the same.  They cannot afford to continue to pay these exorbitant tax rate increases. One thing I would like to see happen is a property tax cap.  I would also like to reevaluate all of the unfunded mandates passed by my opponent and previous legislatures.  Every mandate, no matter the benefit has a cost, and this mandate passed by my opponent, has a cost, which is then passed onto local taxpayers. We cannot afford these mandates from Albany.

McKevitt: The most pressing issue is property taxes which I addressed above.

Patch: One problem facing the East Meadow School district is thievery. Bowling Green Elementary School has had two separate break ins, and people continue to access school property well after hours. Do you think that security upgrades are needed in the district? If so, what would you want to implement?

Devaney: As a college professor in Homeland Security, I have experience in securing our community. I have written grants, and obtained federal funding for various entities with the expressed intent of increasing security. Securing the homeland begins with coordination and collaboration in public entities. These federal programs would also help with day to day criminal activities.

McKevitt: I will defer to the school district administration and board as to what security is needed to safeguard district property.

Patch: This year many cell tower projects proposed in the area that have drawn concern from residents. What is your position on whether these cell towers should be installed near residential neighborhoods?

Devaney: I do not believe cell towers should be placed in residential neighborhoods, and I would do everything in my power if elected to see that no neighborhood is affected by unsightly towers, which will do nothing but bring down property values. No matter the property, state, county or town, I do not believe cell towers should be constructed close to residential or school property.

McKevitt: Cell towers should be installed as far away from homes as possible.  I oppose efforts by the New York State Department of Parks to use state land for the erection of a cell tower.

The 17th Assembly District includes North Bellmore, North Merrick and East Meadow, as well as portions of New Hyde Park, Garden City Park, Garden City, Williston Park, East Williston and Carle Place. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 2. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Visit http://www.vote411.org/pollfinder.php to find your local polling location.


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