Laura Gillen, Anthony D'Esposito spar over taxes, crime at NewsdayTV debate

Democrat Laura Gillen and Republican Anthony D'Esposito, candidates for Congress in New York's Fourth District, tangled over issues such as gun control, taxes and crime during a NewsdayTV debate taped Wednesday night.

Gillen, a former Hempstead Town supervisor, has made protecting abortion rights and strengthening gun control laws the primary focus of her campaign.

D'Esposito, a Hempstead Town Board member and former NYPD detective, attempted to tie Gillen to high inflation rates under Democratic President Joe Biden, saying Democratic policies hurt the economy.

"There's a choice between whether women and girls will retain autonomy over their own health care decisions, or whether we decide to have a national abortion ban that would make abortion a federal crime in every state including New York," Gillen, 53 of Rockville Centre, said at the debate. 

Gillen also argued: "We have a choice on whether we want to ban military-style assault weapons that kill our children, or we want more guns on our street."

D'Esposito, 40 of Island Park, said voters should ask themselves: "Are you better off today than you were when Joe Biden took office?"

" … The cost of groceries, the cost of gas, the cost of living has gone through the roof" because of the "failed policies of Joe Biden and the Democrats, both here in New York and in the United States," D'Esposito said.

They did agree on several issues, including the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.

Asked whether Biden had won the election, both replied: "Yes he did."

The debate was moderated by Newsday associate editor and columnist Joye Brown.

Gillen and D'Esposito fielded questions submitted by voters and Newsday political reporters for 40 minutes.

A video of the debate can be viewed online at newsday.com/tv.

The Fourth District encompasses southwestern Nassau County, and extends north to Garden City and Uniondale.

Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-Garden City), is retiring from the seat after four terms in office.

Gillen and D'Esposito sparred several times over the issue of gun control.

D'Esposito said, "the focus needs to be on those who are carrying illegal firearms and not creating laws that limit those who are carrying them legally."

Law enforcement agencies need, "to prosecute those that are found and arrested with illegal firearms," he said.

Gillen backed universal background checks for firearms buyers and red flag laws that allow police to petition courts to confiscate firearms from those deemed to be dangerous.

She also called for a ban on the sale of military-style assault rifles, and called D'Esposito an "errand boy for the NRA."

"If we want to keep our communities safer, we need more guns off our street," Gillen said.

On the abortion issue, Brown asked both candidates whether they would support legislation by U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) to institute a federal ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

"I would never support a nationwide abortion ban," D'Esposito said.

New York State lawmakers in July passed an amendment to the state Constitution guaranteeing the right to abortion and contraception access.

While the amendment requires further approvals, D'Esposito said: "We know in New York nothing is changing."

But Gillen argued, "if Republicans get control of the House they will pass a national abortion ban making abortion a federal crime in every state, including New York."

Gillen called the issue, "personal for me."

Gillen, who has four children, recalled one occasion when she was 18 weeks pregnant, and had a "fetal demise … When I was told that I could either wait to go into labor, or I could have an abortion procedure that would prevent me from possibly hemorrhaging and dying, or having a massive infection and dying … I chose to have that abortion procedure."

She said when she had the procedure, "I was heckled by anti-choice activists who tried to block me from getting into that facility." 

By Scott Eidler

scott.eidler@newsday.com@ScottEidler

Scott Eidler is a deputy editor for the towns department at Newsday. Scott has worked at Newsday since 2012 and previously covered municipal government and education.