Two candidates have been named in the race to fill late lawmaker Judy Jacobs’ seat in the county Legislature.
Attorney Arnold Drucker, of Plainview, was nominated by the Nassau County Democratic Committee to run for the opening in the county’s 16th Legislative District, which oversees Roslyn Heights, Old Westbury and parts of the Town of Oyster Bay.
The position was left vacant by Judy Jacobs after she died suddenly from a fall on Sept. 13. She served in the Legislature since its inception in 1996.
Chairman of the Democratic Committee Jay Jacobs, unrelated to Judy Jacobs, said that a special committee unanimously approved of Drucker after screening six other candidates.
“He’s been an active member of the party for quite some time,” Jacobs said. “He served as trustee on the Nassau Community College board. He was very impressive in performing his duty there.”
Drucker has lived in Plainview his entire life, Jacobs said, where he raised his children with his wife.
Judy Jacobs was described by colleagues as someone who could work with both parties, and was known as the grandmother of the Legislature.
“We saw somebody that was not going to replace Judy by any means, because she was such a special person,” Jacobs said about Drucker. “I just think that he’ll rise to the challenge and make his mark on the community, and at the end of the day we’ll be very happy with him.”
Attorney Louis Imbroto, 32, was nominated by the Nassau County Republican Committee to run for the open seat.
According to a LinkedIn profile, Imbroto graduated from Brooklyn Law School and currently works as Associate General Counsel for the Nassau Health Care Corporation.
“I’m honored to have been nominated by the party and I intend to do everything I can to win the position and live up to the legacy of Legislator Judy Jacobs,” he said.
Imbroto challenged Jacobs in 2013 when she was up for reelection, but he lost the race when Jacobs was voted in for her 10th term in the Legislature.
County Executive Edward Mangano announced on Sunday that he ordered a special election to fill the vacancy for Nov. 8. The elected candidate will serve the remainder of Jacobs’ term ending November 2017.
