All 19 seats up for election in Nassau County Legislature
American flags embellish the front lawn of the Nassau County executive building, with its statue of Theodore Roosevelt, in Mineola. Credit: Newsday / J. Conrad Williams Jr.
Thirty-eight candidates are vying to fill 19 seats on the Nassau County Legislature, where Republicans hold an 11-8 majority over Democrats.
All but Republican Legis. Vincent Muscarella are seeking reelection on Nov. 2.
Muscarella, 66, of West Hempstead, one of the longest serving Nassau legislators, is running for District Court judge.
That means Nassau's Legislative District 8 — which encompasses Franklin Square, Floral Park, Bellerose, Bellerose Terrace, West Hempstead and portions of Elmont, New Hyde Park and Stewart Manor — will have a new representative for the first time in more than 25 years.
Democrat Nadia Holubnyczyj, 53, of Floral Park, a speech pathologist, school clerk and activist, is running against Republican John J. Giuffre, 57, of Stewart Manor, a personal injury attorney.
In two other races, in Districts 6 and 7, voters will encounter rematches.
In the Sixth, GOP Legis. C. William Gaylor faces a challenge from Democrat Laura Burns, who ran against him in 2019. The district includes Lynbrook, Malverne, North Lynbrook, Valley Stream and portions of Rockville Centre, Hewlett, Franklin Square and Woodmere.
Gaylor, 58, of Lynbrook is an attorney and retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel who served on active duty for 23 years in Panama, Germany, South Korea and Kosovo.
Burns, 52, is an author of young adult novels who helped establish the group Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, after the Sandy Hook school massacre.
In the 7th District, Democrat Lisa Daniels, 55, an attorney from East Rockaway, is making her second attempt to unseat Legis. Howard Kopel (R-Lawrence), after losing to Kopel in 2013.
Kopel, 70, an attorney, the legislature's deputy presiding officer and an attorney, is seeking his seventh term in office.
The races are:
District 1: Democrat Kevan M. Abrahams vs. Republican Elton E. McCabe, Jr.
District 2: Democrat Siela A. Bynoe vs. Republican Harold H. Germain
District 3: Democrat Carrié Solages vs. Republican Bernadin Fleurima
District 4: Republican Denise A. Ford vs. Democrat Claudia P. Lovas
District 5: Democrat Debra S. Mulé vs. Republican Brian J. McEvoy
District 6: Republican C. William Gaylor vs. Democrat Laura J. Burns
District 7: Republican Howard J. Kopel vs. Democrat Lisa Daniels
District 8: Democrat Nadia Holubnyczyj vs. Republican John J. Giuffre
District 9: Republican Richard J. Nicolello vs. Democrat Salju K. Thomas
District 10: Democrat Ellen W. Birnbaum vs. Republican Mazi Melesa Pilip
District 11: Democrat Delia M. DeRiggi Whitton vs. Republican Meagan M. McCarty
District 12: Republican James D. Kennedy vs. Democrat William E. Rogers
District 13: Republican Thomas McKevitt vs. Democrat Eileen M. Napolitano
District 14: Republican Laura M. Schaefer vs. Democrat Robert T. McCarthy
District 15: Republican John R. Ferretti vs. Democrat Matthew W. Malin
District 16: Democrat Arnold W. Drucker vs. Republican Daniel Alter
District 17: Republican Rose Marie Walker vs. Democrat Raja K. Singh
District 18: Democrat Joshua Alexander Lafazan vs. Republican Paolo A. Pironi
District 19: Republican Steven D. Rhoads vs. Democrat Jacob I. Schuster
Candice Ferrette covers Nassau County government and politics on Long Island. She has been a reporter at Newsday since 2011.
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Newsday Live Music Series: Long Island Idols Newsday Live presents a special evening of music and conversation with local singers who grabbed the national spotlight on shows like "The Voice," "America's Got Talent,""The X-Factor" and "American Idol." Newsday Senior Lifestyle Host Elisa DiStefano leads a discussion and audience Q&A as the singers discuss their TV experiences, careers and perform original songs.
