A packed room came to hear state Sen. John J. Flanagan, R-East Northport, and opponent Ira Bernstein at Thursday night's League of Women Voters Debate at Harborfields Public Library in Greenlawn.

With the Nov. 2 election just days away, candidates from several races took turns answering questions on central issues, from jobs to taxes.

Bernstein, a Democrat and former Commack Union Free School District teacher, focused on an issue close to his heart. He said education is important on Long Island, with over 66 percent of taxes from the region going towards schools.

"Teachers must evaluate performance and keep education current," Bernstein said, citing that students relying on Sallie Mae loans to fund their education may be contributing to the next banking crisis.

Flanagan, an East Northport resident and four-term state Senator beginning with his election in 2002, said that the concentration of votes in the state Assembly for New York City is a detriment to the Long Island system, and ultimately the state SUNY system.

"Property taxes have always been an issue," Flanagan said. "The state shouldn't walk away from its obligation to higher education. SUNY educations are the best buy nationwide."

Flanagan also said that public school funding should no longer be based on the enrollment numbers for a given county, but rather on the attendance figures, leaving the responsibility up to the administrators to keep the children in school.

The environment – and how to fund programs to protect it – was another issue that the community presented to the candidates

Bernstein's answer ranged from traffic jams and pollution from local chemical and manufacturing companies, citing the fact that Lake Ronkonkoma is no longer open as a swimming location in Suffolk County.

"I would go after the companies and promote organic gardens in schools to show children how to care for the environment," he said.

Flanagan said adequate funding is needed to keep the environmental protection programs running.

"We must properly fund programs,'' he said. "Past New York state budgets, which I voted against, do not help protect these laws and do not help protect the environment."

At the end of the formal question and answer session, Lisa Scott of the League of Women Voters of Smithtown and event moderator, questioned candidates on three topics in a 30-second lightning round format. The issues were Medicaid benefits and reform, affordable housing and affordable child care.

Flanagan said that New York state spends four percent, approximately $52 billion, on Medicaid benefits and funding and that if he were re-elected, he would push Albany to take a "hardcore look at what we can afford and the fraud in the system."

Bernstein said that prevention should be looked at as a serious alternative to the overuse of medication, which he said contributes to accidents on the roads and ultimately even more money spent by the government.

Flanagan left the debate before answering the final two questions in the lightning round, but Bernstein said low-income affordable housing would only work if it was approved by the community. He said multi-generational housing may also be a possibility to alleviate the problems in Suffolk County.

Look for our voter guides next week to help you understand more about the candidates, their policies and their districts.