Don Clavin, Kate Murray announce bids for Hempstead seats

Nassau County Republicans released their slate of nominees for the November elections Tuesday night, seeking to take back the Hempstead supervisor and multiple town, city and legislature seats. 

Donald X. Clavin Jr., the Republican Hempstead receiver of taxes, launched his bid for town supervisor Tuesday to unseat Supervisor Laura Gillen. He is campaigning on a ticket with former Supervisor Kate Murray, who is running for town clerk, Republican officials said.

Republicans have not yet named a candidate to challenge Democratic Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas.

All nominations passed by party vote Tuesday night at the Republican Party convention at Levittown Hall in Hicksville.  

Clavin, 50, of Garden City, announced his candidacy Tuesday in Valley Stream as Nassau Republicans attempt to take back the supervisor seat that was lost to a Democrat in 2017 for the first time in a century.

"We need someone that is going to put you the taxpayer, you the hard worker, you the father, mother that both have to go out to jobs to pay for kids. We need taxpayers first and that’s why I’m running for Town of Hempstead supervisor," Clavin said.

Murray, 56, of Levittown, is making her return to politics after serving 12 years as Hempstead town supervisor. She vacated her seat at the end of her sixth term when she launched a failed bid in 2015 for Nassau County district attorney. She currently serves as spokeswoman and vice president of institutional advancement at Nassau Community College.

"The second time I hope is sweeter than the first time," Murray said. "I’ve been town clerk. I’ve been supervisor. So in a unique way, I know what it is to be supervisor, and I know Don Clavin has what it takes to be supervisor.”

Clavin has served as receiver of taxes since he was first appointed in 2001. He is a five-time incumbent whose seat is also up for re-election. Clavin previously worked as deputy attorney for Nassau County, where he was tasked with defending county agencies in litigation. He also worked in the private sector defending corporations, including Home Depot and General Motors.

He has been building his profile and increasing his visibility over the past year, such as by holding frequent news conferences and challenging Nassau County’s tax assessment system. 

Gillen will seek re-election to a second term as one of two Democrats on the board.

Nassau County Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs criticized Clavin for his series of news conferences as tax receiver before he was a candidate for supervisor.

"Now we know why Tax Collector Don Clavin was spending hundreds of thousands of your taxpayer money to promote himself and his partisan agenda for the past year and a half," Jacobs said.

Jacobs also criticized Murray's prior term as supervisor, which he said left the town with a deficit in the millions. 

Murray will be running against Democratic Clerk Sylvia Cabana, who is also seeking re-election. 

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.