Several North Shore mayors along with Republican and Democratic ones throughout Nassau County have endorsed County Executive Laura Curran for re-election.
Baxter Estates Mayor Nora Haagenson, East Hills Mayor Michael Koblenz, Flower Hill Mayor Brian Herrington and Port Washington North Mayor Robert Weitzner were among the mayors who reportedly endorsed Curran for re-election.
Others were Bayville Mayor Robert De Natale, Brookville Mayor Dan Serota, Centre Island Mayor Lawrence Schmidlap, Farmingdale Mayor Ralph Ekstrand, Lynbrook Mayor Alan Beach, Malverne Mayor Keith Corbett, Rockville Centre Mayor Francis Murray, South Floral Park Mayor Geoff Prime and Hempstead Mayor Waylyn Hobbs Jr.
Ekstrand, a Republican, thanked Curran for her efforts in revitalizing downtowns across the county, including Farmingdale’s.
“I was grateful for the County Executive’s support as Farmingdale spearheaded what now serves as a blueprint for downtown revitalization through transit-oriented development,” he said. “That’s the kind of leader Nassau needs in this next chapter and that’s why I am proud to endorse her for county executive.”
Efforts to reach North Shore mayors for comment were unavailing.
Curran, a Democrat, is running for re-election in November against Republican Bruce Blakeman, a Town of Hempstead councilman.
Earlier this month, Curran gained the endorsements of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and two of Nassau County’s police unions, representing superior officers and detectives.
Schumer, who also endorsed Curran as his choice for county executive in 2017, touted her work in combating political corruption and creating a more transparent government after the previous administration under former County Executive Edward Mangano, a Republican.
“I’m proud to endorse Laura Curran for county executive because she has charted a new path forward for Nassau County,” Schumer said. “Laura has tackled the corruption and mismanagement of previous administrations, balanced the budget and improved public services all while steadily leading the county through a global, once-in-a-generation public health and economic crisis.”
Officials from the Police Superior Officers Association and the Police Detectives Association touted Curran’s work over the past few years and cited labor agreements she helped facilitate with both unions since 2018.
Superior Officers Association President Ricky Frassetti said as county executive Curran tripled the size of the Police Department’s community affairs unit, reopened two precincts and quadrupled the problem-oriented police officers in each precinct.
“While the county executive and I might not always agree on everything, she always listens and is willing to work things out, ” Frassetti said. “Laura is committed to working to support initiatives that strengthen the relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve.”
Detectives Association President John Wighaus praised Curran for not getting “caught up in winning and losing” and instead being an elected official who was around during good times and bad.
