The two candidates running for Hempstead town supervisor both say affordability is a top priority for residents, but they sharply disagree on whether the town's finances are on solid footing.

Republican incumbent John Ferretti is seeking re-election after winning the position in 2025. A year earlier, Ferretti faced criticism from opponents for serving as supervisor through an appointment rather than election. He says voters ultimately endorsed his leadership and that his administration has delivered tangible savings for taxpayers.

"My first obligation was to cut property taxes for 2026 and we cut property taxes 18% for every single resident in the Town of Hempstead," Ferretti said. "Now proposing our 2027 tax freeze budget, it freezes that property cut in place, saving the residents a total of $10 million dollars."

Ferretti enters the race with the backing of the influential Nassau County Republican organization and argues Hempstead is outperforming other municipalities that are considering exceeding New York's property tax cap.

Democratic challenger Joe Scianablo, of Garden City, is mounting his second consecutive campaign against Ferretti. The Marine combat veteran says residents deserve greater transparency about the town's finances and questions whether the proposed budget is sustainable.

"We need an open and honest audit of the town's finances," Scianablo said. "We uncovered a 970% increase in the miscellaneous fund. They're having to sell town-owned properties and dip into reserves to fill budget gaps, and that's a huge concern."

Scianablo warned that actions taken now could lead to higher taxes in future years.

"Today's decisions could be tomorrow's tax hikes," he said.

Ferretti rejected those criticisms, saying the town's financial management has earned outside validation.

"We have a AAA bond rating in the Town of Hempstead," Ferretti said. "There's a reason for that. It's because we have to be fiscally responsible and we are giving property tax cuts back to the residents of the Town of Hempstead."

The race will test whether Democrats can gain ground in a town that has long been dominated by Republicans. Scianablo is seeking to become just the second Democrat elected Hempstead town supervisor in more than a century and the first since Laura Gillen's victory in 2017.

As Election Day approaches, both candidates are making affordability a central theme of their campaigns, while offering voters competing visions of the town's financial health and future direction.