Old political rivals square off in the 12th L. D.
by Ron Scaglia

Two political rivals are at it again as N.C. Leg. Peter Schmitt, a Republican and Democrat John Rennhack vie for the seat in the 12th legslative district. The two square off in November and are about as polarized politically as two candidates can be.

Schmitt supports a freeze on real property assessments and repealing the county's tax on gasoline; Rennhack doesn't.

Rennhack supports the work of the Suozzi administration; Schmitt doesn't.

Both men call for economic development and consolidation of services at all levels of government to save money, but disagree on how to go about that.

Rennhack ran against Schmitt in 1995, losing by a wide margin, but the North Massapequa resident believes that it is important to speak up and challenge his opponent again, whatever the outcome.

"I'm not afraid to tell the truth," said Rennhack about why voters should choose him in the upcoming election. "I'm going to say what is best for Nassau County, not whatever it takes to get votes."

"My reasons for seeking re-election are both local and global," said Schmitt, who has been the minority leader in the legislature since 2000 and was deputy presiding officer for the four years previous to that. "Locally, I want to make sure that Massapequa gets its fair share from the county. Globally, I want to lead the Republican Party in bringing less government and lower taxes to Nassau while also leading the opposition to the constant spending of the Democrats."

Schmitt said he is proud of the streetscape improvements and the upgrading of the sewage pumping stations he's been able to bring to the area. And his work in the county has resulted in the refurbishment and rehabilitation of the area's waterways.

Take for example, the issue of the county's tax on gasoline. Rennhack said that while it is something that people support, it is also something they don't fully understand. Eliminating the tax, which raises $50 million a year for the county, would put the county's finances in dire straits. That, in turn, could lead to higher property taxes.

Schmitt is in favor of capping the county sales tax on gasoline at $2 on each gallon. He also calls for eliminating the sales tax of clothing and footwear that cost less than $110.

"(Eliminating) the tax cut on the purchases of clothing would cost the county $80 million and it's not a tax cut that's exclusive to Nassau County as residents of other counties shop here," said Rennhack. "This money pays for police and vital social services."

Schmitt, in typical trickle down economics, said the cuts would actually bring in more revenue because New York City already has the sales tax cut in place. "Why should someone who works in New York City, come home and go to Roosevelt Field when they can buy the same item in the city without the tax?" he said, adding that he estimated the change would pump $70 million into the local economy, and create jobs. "Every dollar pumped into the local economy pumps back three," he said.

The Schmitt-Rennhack race is the lightning rod for a countywide debate over a Schmitt proposal to freeze assessments. He said the plan would slow down the rate of tax increases as well as provide an open and more informative process of raising taxes.

"People have a right to know what their taxes will be and budget accordingly," said Schmitt, who maintains that the county has surrepticiously increased taxes by playing with assessments. "You can't hit residents with continuing increases that they are not planning for."

Under the proposal, real property assessments would be frozen and residents would have to be notified of any changes, and prepare appropriatly, said Schmott. Increases over a fiveyear period can be no more than 6 percent, however.

"Even during a freeze, taxes will continue to go up," Rennhack said. "A freeze will not save residents any money and homeowners who expand their houses will not be paying their fair share."

Schmitt counters that taxes may go up, but that is different from assessments and that when taxes go up, the public is informed in advance- not so with assessments.

"What about money for a "rainy day?" asked Rennhack. "If a catastrophe such as a hurricane hits Nassau County, we'd need money but we'd be back to the Gulotta years, with our bond rating next to junk."

Schmitt said Rennhack just doesn't understand the concept. He explained that if school taxes go up by three percent, that percentage is based on assessment. But if the assessment values go up, the increase is actually higher than 3 percent for every taxing entity, resulting in some of the significant raises many people in Nassau County saw as the county went through the new assessment program.

Rennhack blames Schmitt for failing to bring ecnomic development to the area, citing vacant stores in the district; Schmitt counters that the stores are vacant because taxes are too high, a problem brought on by the Suozzi administration.

Rennhack is in favor of the county working with towns to help build more affordable housing which would help bring more jobs and more people to the area and stem the tide of flight from Nassau County as a result of high housing costs.

Schmitt said people would stay in Nassau county if taxes were brought under control, something he said the Democrats have been unable and unwilling to do.

Both candidates agree on one thing, however: they believe that consolidating services in order to save money is the way to go. Both disagree, however, with a Democrat proposal that would consolidate school taxes in a county pool to be distributed equally among districts throughout Nassau County.

"In Massapequa, our taxes are kept lower because we have the mall," he said. "Why should we have to contend with the congestion and pollution that mall brings to our area and then share the tax benefits equally with other communities. This an example of where I will fight for Massapequa."

Rennhack lives in North Massapequa with his wife and their three children. He is a broadcast satellite manager for CBS Television. In that position, he was able to spend two months in Japan while covering the Winter Olympics for CBS. He is running on the Democratic line.

Schmitt resides in Massapequa with his wife and daughter. He has been a legislator for twelve years and previously worked for the Town of Oyster Bay. He is running on the Republican, Independence and Conservative party lines.

The 12th LD covers Massapequa and Massapequa Park as well as portions of Seaford and North Massapequa. Election Day is T ues., Nov. 6.

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