The race for the Town of North Hempstead’s District 6 pits two people with extensive community ties – Democrat Mariann Dalimonte and David Franklin, who is running on the Republican and Conservative lines.
We strongly favor Dalimonte, the current council member.
Dalimonte, a fourth-generation resident of Port Washington, has served in leadership positions in everything from PTAs to the Greater Port Washington Business Improvement District where she worked with local businesses.
She was also the director of development for Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington where she worked to support educational, environmental, and beautification efforts in the community and was a member of a host of volunteer organizations.
Her extensive background in the community has continued as she became a town council member who sends regular email updates to residents.
She combines this with a conscientious approach to the issues to become a very effective advocate for her district.
Like North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, a Republican, she favors holding the line if not cutting taxes.
But unlike DeSena, she is taking a cautious approach to make sure tax cuts do not come at the expense of needed services next year and in following years. She has rightly called for increasing the number of building inspectors and code enforcers.
We would like to see Dalimonte, along with other council members, support policies that would do more to approve needed housing. She said she is “very concerned” about a proposed 7-story, 170-unit development at 145 West Shore Road.
But she suggested bringing in various community groups and organizations, such as local schools, police and community members, to figure out what would work for Port Washington and other communities in the district.
Franklin does not go that far. He said he believes the district may be “full” and cannot accommodate more housing.
Franklin is making a second run for office, having lost a bid for state Senate.
He is a member of several community groups, served for nine years as a commissioner for the Port Washington Police Department and currently serves as a deputy commissioner for the Nassau County Parks and Recreation, and Museum.
But his judgment concerns us.
In his Assembly bid, he said he did not know if Joe Biden actually won the 2020 election bid.
This year he said he was not a scientist so he could not determine if we are experiencing climate change.
We think that is a problem for someone helping to oversee county parks – let alone grapple with the impact of climate change on the Town Council.
We think Dalimonte is an effective voice for the district and offers a sensible approach to Town issues.
We strongly endorse Mariann Dalimonte for North Hempstead Town Council District 6.
Editors note: An earlier version of this story said Franklin ran previously for state Assembly.