SUFFOLK CLOSEUP - Zeldin And Gershon "Kinda" Debate Environment

SUFFOLK CLOSEUP

By Karl Grossman

The rivals in the hotly contested race in the lst Congressional District this year—Republican incumbent Representative Lee Zeldin and Democratic challenger Perry Gershon—appeared last week at an environmental forum.

It provided quite the contrast.

The one thing Messrs. Zeldin and Gershon share is both are Jewish—and it is the first time in my memory covering politics in Suffolk County since 1962 that two Jews were running against each other in a major race. Decades ago, there was a level of reluctance to run a Jewish person for a major office in Suffolk—a concern that this would reduce the vote received. 

Also, both men are affiliated with the same denomination of Judaism, the Reform movement. Mr. Zeldin and his family are members of B’nai Israel Reform Temple in Oakdale where he was bar mitzvahed by the rabbi still there, Steven Moss, who id also chair of the Suffolk County Human Rights Commission. Mr. Gershon and his family are members of Long Island’s oldest synagogue, Temple Adas Israel in Sag Harbor.

Jews, along with Italian-Americans (earlier discriminated against in Suffolk politics), and African-Americans and Latinos in recent years, have made great strides in Suffolk politics.

Although they have a religion in common, Messrs. Zeldin and Gershon could not be more different politically. 

The arrangements for the October 15^th forum were poor. Instead of getting use of a big high school auditorium for the large group of people that could be expected to attend—this was the first time the candidates would be answering questions at the same event—the New York League of Conservation Voters arranged for the relatively small auditorium at the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Center of Suffolk County Community College.  This resulted in a fiasco. Many people on a dark, rainy night in Riverhead weren’t allowed in and had to wait outside or go home. There were public apologies from the moderator from the League of Conservative Voters. 

Messrs. Zeldin and Gershon, meanwhile, didn’t debate each other—despite decades of debates under the auspices of the League of Women Voters and other organizations held for contests in the lst C.D. which includes much of Smithtown. 

Instead, the candidates appeared separately. There was a panel of three environmentalists asking questions. Mr. Gershon came in first, gave an opening statement and then answered questions from the environmentalists and three questions gathered from members of the audience He then gave a closing statemen. Next, Mr. Zeldin came in, gave an opening statement and answered the exact same questions Mr. Gershon was asked. Then he made a closing statement.

Despite this not being a normal head-on debate, the differing stances of Gershon, of East Hampton, and Zeldin, of Shirley, about environmental issues came through.

For example, on the issue of climate change, Mr. Gershon, in response to a question from the panel as to whether he thought it was caused by humans, said “yes.” Mr. Zeldin also said “yes,” but then added. “there are multiple factors.”

Mr. Zeldin’s personal and political closeness to President Donald Trump—who has been in denial of climate change and has had his administration dismember a host of environmental protections—was a central target of Mr. Gershon. “We need a congressman that’s going to stand up to the Trump administration and say, ‘No, we’re not going to take this anymore. We’re going to get on the right track. That’s why I ran for Congress.”

He cited Mr. Zeldin’s rating of a low 7 percent last year from the League of Conservation Voters. Mr. Gershon spoke about his environmental ethic. “I have solar panels on my roof. I drive an electric car,” he said. And he gave strong support to a wide array of environmental initiatives—and proposed other steps. He not only supported offshore wind but, a businessman, he suggested the turbines for offshore wind be produced on Long Island, creating a major industry. He criticized the Trump move to broadly open ocean waters to oil drilling, going on to say that Mr. Zeldin has opposed Atlantic offshore oil drilling but wouldn’t sign a petition in Congress opposing the opening of other ocean waters off the U.S. coastline to drilling.

Mr. Zeldin cited funding and re-authorizations he had secured for various environmental projects especially involving the Long Island Sound and National Estuary Program. He spoke of his effort to stop the dumping of dredge spoils from Connecticut into the Long Island Sound and his resolution to block the federal sale “to the highest bidder” of Plum Island which, he said, should not only be preserved but research there should continue. The federal government has run the Plum Island Animal Disease Center since the 1950s.

“I believe it is hugely important to ensure we have stringent standards set to provide clean air and clean water for Long Island and across the country,” said Mr. Zeldin, a lawyer.  

Karl Grossman is a veteran investigative reporter and columnist, the winner of numerous awards for his work and a member of the L.I. Journalism Hall of Fame. He is a professor of journalism at SUNY/College at Old Westbury and the author of six books.