Kevan Abrahams to announce run for Hempstead Town Council seat

Kevan Abrahams, the longtime Nassau County legislator who retired last year after a 21-year run, will announce on Monday that he is making another bid for public office, running in the special election in November for the Hempstead Town Council seat left vacant after the death of Christopher Carini.

Carini, 49, who was in his second term in the District 5 seat, died while on vacation in Florida on July 14, leaving behind two children and a wife.

The special election for the position, which represents parts of Freeport, Merrick, North Merrick, Bellmore, Wantagh, Seaford, Lido Beach, Point Lookout and North Bellmore, will be held on Nov. 5, the same day as the presidential election.

Abrahams, the legislature's former minority leader who works for Northwell Health as the director of strategic planning, decided to take another crack at public office, he said, after seeing a $2 million jump in Hempstead’s overall tax levy in addition to a rise in fees for town services.

“These back-door tax increases affect everything from seasonal and daily passes at town pools to parking permits and sports league fees. It’s happening on the backs of the taxpayer — the people are carrying the burden for the Town’s fiscal mismanagement. It needs to change,” said Abrahams, of Freeport, in a statement.

He said that he hopes to bring the same fiscal scrutiny to Hempstead that he brought to the county.

"Our community deserves a representative who fights for fairness, transparency, and the well-being of all residents. I am committed to bringing accountability and positive change,” he said in the statement. 

The Nassau County Republican Party has not announced a candidate for the special election.

A spokesman for the party did not respond to calls seeking comment Saturday.

With Candice Ferrette