Democrat Arnold Drucker, a lawyer from Plainview, was elected to fill the 16th Legislative District seat left vacant with the death of longtime Democratic Legislator Judy Jacobs in December 2016, preventing Republican county legislators from gaining a 13-6 veto-proof majority.
Less than a year later, Drucker is defending his seat against Republican Angel Cepeda, a business consultant from Plainview who served six years on the Plainview-Old Bethpage school board.
Drucker, who earned a Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award from the Queens County Bar Association, has said his No. 1 concern was corruption in county government and like his fellow Democrats favors the appointment of an independent inspector general.
He also supports the appointment of an independent commission to replace the county Legislature in redrawing legislative district lines.
Little wonder.
Drucker’s district, which was created in a 10-9 party line vote in 2003, stretches from Roslyn Heights to Hicksville — a testament to Republican legislators’ desire to give 12 of the county’s 19 districts a Republican majority in registered voters — in a county in which Democrat registered voters outnumber Republican registered voters. Thanks to the gerrymandering, Roslyn was divided into four districts, including the one currently held by Drucker.
Drucker has also offered strong leadership in responding to bomb threats made to the Mid Island Y in Plainview and anti-Semitic graffiti in Syosset as well as making safety improvements to Roslyn Road.
Cepeda presents himself as a pragmatist who would use his business experience to solve problems.
But he opposes a redistricting commission to ensure fair elections in the county.
We believe Cepeda brings a strong commitment to serving the community, but believe Drucker brings more skills and more commitment to the fights that need to be waged to fix Nassau County.
We endorse Arnold Drucker for county legislator in the 16th District.
