Bio
Richard Nicolello is the presiding officer of the Nassau County Legislature. He is the chair of the Legislature’s Rules Committee and vice chair of the Budget Review Committee.
He has represented the 9th Legislative District since the inception of the Nassau County Legislature in 1996.
As presiding officer, Rich Nicolello has focused on a number of issues affecting Nassau County and Long Island as a region, including applying fiscal conservative principles to the county’s budget; promoting economic development and smart growth to keep our talented young people on Long Island; achieving the full potential of the Coliseum/ HUB property; fighting the opioid epidemic; and supporting the Nassau County Police Department’s efforts to maintain Nassau as a safe community.
Rich Nicolello has been a practicing attorney since 1986. He is of counsel to the law firm of Congdon, Flaherty, O’Callaghan, where he leads the firm’s insurance coverage group.
Rich Nicolello graduated from New Hyde Park Memorial High School and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and Politics (Magna Cum Laude) from St. John’s University. He received his Juris Doctor from Fordham Law School.
Rich and his wife Susan have two children, Kathleen and Patrick. Rich is a life-long resident of New Hyde Park.
Issue 1. Making Nassau More Affordable
The cost of living in Nassau County is forcing residents to leave, including working families, young people and our seniors. A major part of this is high property taxes. I have fought to provide lasting financial relief to our residents, including the following.
– Proposed budget amendments to cut $50 million in county property taxes and cut patronage.
– Fought against the county executive’s reassessment plan, which resulted in tax increases for ⅔ of Nassau residents.
– Sponsored legislation to cut $100 million dollars in county fees.
– Created a special fund to finally tax refunds owed to county residents and small businesses.
I will continue to do everything I can to cut taxes, reduce fees, and help allow Nassau residents, especially our seniors and young people, to be able to stay here.
Issue 2. Keeping our Communities Safe
It is a continuous struggle to keep our communities safe. We have seen in New York City that the wrong policies can have devastating consequences. I have always voted to fully fund the police; opposed New York State cashless bail laws that have released dangerous criminals to our streets; fought for the restoration of community policing and the return of 6th Precinct; voted for the use of 21st century technology, such as shot spotter, to help fight crime; and stopped the county executive’s attempt to expel federal ICE agents from the county jail.
Continue the battle against the opioid epidemic.
Our county and region must continue the fight against the opioid epidemic, which has ruined lives, torn-apart families, challenged law enforcement and stretched the resources of our support services network.
I created a special lockbox so that tens of millions from settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors must be used in support of prevention, treatment, education and other services to combat the pandemic. I also sponsored a capital plan amendment to add $775,000 to the capital plan to fund a study to find a location, and eventually fund the construction of a new county facility to treat people with opioid addictions
Final statement
I believe that my experienced leadership in the Legislature makes me the more qualified candidate for Legislator in the 9th Legislative District. I continue to live in the same community where I grew up, work locally for a private law firm and continue to understand the unique challenges our residents face as well as the unique characteristics that make Long Island a special place.
