The race for county executive between incumbent Laura Curran and challenger Bruce Blakeman headlines the elections in Nassau County on Tuesday.
Nassau County Executive
Curran, a Democrat, previously served as a member of the Baldwin Board of Education before being elected as county executive in 2017.
Blakeman, a Republican, serves as a council member for the Town of Hempstead. Aside from being Nassau’s liaison between the county’s Republican Party and former President Donald Trump, Blakeman also served as commissioner of the Port Authority and the Town of Hempstead’s deputy supervisor under former Supervisor Laura Gillen.
Blakeman has been critical of the county’s reassessment work introduced by Curran after she was elected. Curran has referred to state and independent reports verifying the accuracy of the reassessment.
Blakeman also criticized Curran for a recently passed initiative to provide eligible homeowners with direct payments of $375. The checks were more than half of the $193 million Nassau received as part of the American Rescue Plan.
Curran, whose 2022 proposed budget includes a $70 million tax cut, touted the county’s improved financial state as the reason Nassau does not need to hold onto the $100 million in federal funds. Curran and Blakeman both touted their efforts to provide residents with coronavirus testing and vaccination opportunities, along with feeding those who were less fortunate during the pandemic.
District Attorney
After Madeline Singas was appointed to the state’s highest court earlier this year, the race to replace her features Democratic state Sen. Todd Kaminsky and Republican attorney Anne Donnelly, a veteran of the district attorney’s office. Kaminsky said the three biggest issues facing Nassau County residents are opioids, gun violence and corruption. Donnelly said putting an end to the “cashless bail law,” combating opioid addiction and bolstering the Technology Crimes Unit are among the issues she wants to address if elected.
County Clerk
Nassau County Clerk Maureen O’Connell, the Republican incumbent, served as a trustee and deputy mayor of the Village of East Williston from 1991 to 1998 before being elected to the state Assembly. She was the first woman elected by the 17th District, and served on the Assembly’s Judiciary and Insurance and Ethics committees.
Justin Brown, the Democratic challenger, is president of the Nassau County Board of Visitors, where he advocates for inmate rights, and serves on the executive board for Hofstra’s Master of Healthcare Administration Alumni program.
County Comptroller
Ryan Cronin and Elaine Phillips are running for Nassau County comptroller to fill the seat held by Jack Schnirman, who is not seeking re-election. Cronin, a Democrat, has spent his private sector legal career representing a wide range of clients. He has represented companies navigating the unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic, fought to force the recall of a defective product that caused the injury and death of infants and protected victims of Bernard Madoff’s financial fraud.
Phillips, a Republican, served as a state senator and is a former mayor and trustee for the Village of Flower Hill. Phillips said she is running to give the people of Nassau County a watchdog with a proven track record of independence, fairness, responsiveness to constituents and problem solving.
County Legislator – District 8
Nadia Holubnyczyj, a Democrat, is running against John Giuffre, a Republican, for the county’s 8th Legislative District, currently held by Vincent Muscarella. The district includes West Hempstead, Franklin Square, and parts of Garden City South, Stewart Manor, Floral Park, Bellerose and Bellerose Terrace.
County Legislator – District 9
Presiding Officer and Republican Richard Nicolello is running for re-election against Democratic challenger Salju Thomas. The district includes New Hyde Park, Garden City Park, Mineola, East Williston, Williston Park, Albertson, Roslyn Estates, Munsey Park, Plandome, Plandome Heights and Plandome Manor.
County Legislator – District 10
Incumbent Democrat Ellen Birnbaum is running for re-election against Republican challenger Mazi Melesa Pilip. The district covers Manhasset, Manhasset Hills, North Hills, Searington, Herricks and the nine villages on the Great Neck peninsula.
County Legislator – District 11
Incumbent Democrat Delia DeRiggi-Whitton is running for re-election against Republican challenger Meagan McCarty. This district covers the entire Port Washington peninsula, Flower Hill, Roslyn, Roslyn Harbor, Glenwood Landing, Glen Cove and Sea Cliff.
County Legislator – District 14
Incumbent Republican Laura Schaefer is running for re-election against Robert McCarthy. This district covers Garden City South, Garden City, Carle Place, Westbury, Hicksville, and parts of Old Westbury and Bethpage.
County Legislator – District 16
Democratic incumbent Arnold Drucker is running for re-election against Republican challenger Daniel Alter. This district covers Roslyn Heights, parts of Old Westbury, Jericho, Plainview, and parts of Syosset and Woodbury.
County Legislator – District 18
Incumbent Josh Lafazan, who caucuses with Democrats, is running for re-election against Republican challenger Paolo Pironi. This district covers East Hills, Old Brookville, Brookville, Glen Head, Upper Brookville, East Norwich, Oyster Bay, Oyster Bay Cove, Mill Neck, Bayville, Cove Neck, and parts of Syosset and Woodbury.
Town of North Hempstead Supervisor
Democratic Town Clerk Wayne Wink is running against Republican challenger Jennifer DeSena. Wink, serving his second term as clerk, also served three full terms as county legislator for the 11th District after winning his seat in a special election in March 2007. DeSena is a former SEC enforcement attorney, current executive director of the Manhasset Coalition Against Substance Abuse, and active member of the Greater Council of Civic Associations and the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Mary’s.
DeSena said maintaining parks, running a fair and transparent government, and communicating with town residents are some of the goals she wants to accomplish if elected.
Wink said his goals include ensuring the town makes a safe and strong recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, providing easy access to essential services, and enhancing the Building Department.
Town of North Hempstead Clerk
Democratic Councilwoman Viviana Russell is running for clerk against Republican challenger Ragini Srivastava. Throughout her 12-year tenure, Russell said she worked to carry out the visions set forth by the communities she represents, placing a high priority on environmental sensitivity, responsibility and sustainability.
Srivastava said she is focused on re-engineering the town clerk’s office to be more efficient and user-friendly. She also said there is a need for more online services, and hours of operation have to be structured to serve residents when they are available.
Town of North Hempstead – District 1
Democrat Robert Troiano is running against Republican Kerri Delio. The district covers the entire Port Washington peninsula along with Plandome, Plandome Manor, Plandome Heights, Munsey Park, and Flower Hill.
Town of North Hempstead – District 3
Democrat Christine Pusateri is running against Republican Dennis Walsh. The district includes Williston Park, Mineola, and parts of Garden City Park and New Hyde Park.
Town of North Hempstead – District 5
Democrat Peter Fishkind is running for the seat against Republican David Adhami. The district includes parts of the Great Neck peninsula, Lake Success, North New Hyde Park and parts of Floral Park.
Town of Hempstead Supervisor
Republican incumbent Don Clavin is running for re-election against Democrat Jason Abelove. Clavin served as the receiver of taxes for the town for nearly two decades before being elected as supervisor in 2019. Abelove is an attorney who specializes in employment law and individual rights.
Clavin said providing tax relief to residents, recovering from the coronavirus pandemic and modernizing town government are three issues he wants to focus on if re-elected. Abelove said he wants to lower taxes, allocate federal funds appropriately and to have everyone in the town treat others equally.
