Even his Republican opponent accuses him of grandstanding.
http://longisland.news12.com/story/39052741/candidate-rails-against-sex-offenders-at-school-polling-places
Candidate rails against sex offenders at school polling places
Posted: Sep 08, 2018 5:31 PM EDTMASSAPEQUA PARK - Massapequa Park Mayor Jeff Pravato, a Republican running for state Senate, is making waves before Thursday’s primary election.
He is calling for a stepped up police presence at schools where people will be voting because Gov. Andrew Cuomo reinstated voting rights for a total of 24,000 on parole - including Level 3 sex offenders.
“We don't want to see a sex offender coming in there and possibly doing something hurtful to our children,” says Pravato.
The mayor is also asking parents to leave their kids at home when they vote and suggested that they carry mace to protect themselves.
There are certain provisions in place during Thursday’s vote. The ex-cons will need written permission from their parole officers, as well as school district officials, to vote at schools. They will also be barred from entering any school until after 7 p.m.
Meanwhile, Democrats and Pravato’s opponent are accusing the Republican candidate of political grandstanding before Election Day.
“What's happening is another Republican ‘hey look over there’ situation,” says state Sen. John Brooks (D-Seaford).
Suffolk Executive Steve Bellone says the county has the “toughest monitoring and enforcement program against sex offenders anywhere in the country.”
