As he officially announced his bid for Hempstead Town supervisor, County Assessor Harvey Levinson promised supporters they'd have a loud voice if he takes the reigns. His main reason for running is simple: he believes property taxes in Nassau County, particularly the Town of Hempstead, are out of control. "Today is our day. Today we begin to fight to take back our town," the Garden City resident exclaimed to rousing applause.

Fellow Democrats and local residents flanked Levinson, 65, as he ridiculed the town's employment practices, alleging political connections still determine hiring and promotion. "That nonsense would stop under me," he promised.

He further criticized the town's inability to effectively combat illegal housing, a growing problem in numerous communities. "Illegal multi-family homes endanger firefighters, police officers and EMTs who must respond to life-threatening emergencies. If we don't deal with this crisis it's only a matter of time before a firefighter dies," he continued.

Levinson vowed to take on what he called "invisible government" in nearly 100 taxing districts within the town and keep increasing property taxes in check. "Up until now the Town of Hempstead has been untouched by reform," he noted. "If you live in an unincorporated area of Nassau County - and two-thirds of the folks in the town do - your property taxes are at the mercy of all kinds of special districts set up years ago to provide services like garbage and water. This special district structure has outlived its usefulness. If indeed it was ever a good idea when it started it has become an unaccountable patronage den for the GOP."

While researching these special districts, Levinson said he discovered huge disparities in the taxes paid for the same services based upon "arbitrary boundary lines" drawn in the 1910s and 1920s. "For example, residents of North Rockville Centre and South Hempstead pay twice as much for their garbage service than a home in East Meadow. Their fire district taxes are twice as high as the Baldwin district, which is just around the corner," he explained.

Levinson continued, adding, "In the Franklin Square/West Hempstead area, an average home pays $900 to have their garbage picked up and taken to the dump while across the street in the Incorporated Village of Stewart Manor the same service costs $385. Something crazy is going on. The incumbent supervisor claims she has no authority on special districts and their taxes but that is a damning admission on her part. I pledge this morning that when I am supervisor you will never hear me say, 'that is not my responsibility.'"

He said he promises to fight what he dubs the "entrenched political machine" for town-wide cheaper and more efficient garbage collection service and disposal under one tax rate. He won't consider the job done, he said, until the era of special districts and rising property taxes is over. "I will push to consolidate services throughout the Town and eliminate where I can unaccountable special district taxes in order to streamline government and cut costs," Levinson, who became the first Democrat to serve as chairman of Nassau's Board of Assessors back in 2003, added.

County Executive Tom Suozzi believes Levinson is the right man for the job. "Harvey has proven that he has the intellect, experience and integrity to fight for the people of the Town of Hempstead. I couldn't be prouder than I am to be part of a team that includes Harvey Levinson. He will run a competitive race that he will win and deliver to the people of the Town of Hempstead an effective government that serves the people and not the politicians."

Democratic Committee Chair Jay Jacobs added, "With 169 days to go before the general election in November, we are pledging as a party to come together and make sure that Dorothy Goosby [the sole Democrat on Hempstead Town's board] ends up having a lot of company."

Kate Murray, appointed Town of Hempstead supervisor back in January 2003 and officially elected to the position in November of that year, told Anton Newspapers she's certainly looking forward to a spirited campaign on the issues. "I'm going to be running on my record," she said. "This year, I'm proposing a budget with a tax free zero increase, and that combined with our recent bond rating upgrade and the enhancement of our services, I think residents will recognize that they receive a tremendous bang for their buck."