GOP contender leading in North Hempstead supervisor race

Nassau Republicans had a strong showing in the county’s local races Tuesday, likely picking up the open North Hempstead supervisor seat and flipping the mayor’s office in Glen Cove.

Jennifer S. DeSena, the Republican candidate for North Hempstead Town supervisor, appeared poised to win that race.

The unofficial results were based on all Nassau County precincts reporting Tuesday night but absentee ballots were still outstanding.

"Thank you from a total newcomer pulling me right out of the community," DeSena said from the Coral House in Baldwin, where Republicans gathered election night. "I’m really excited to serve you and working with this team."

In Glen Cove, Republican challenger Pamela D. Panzenbeck defeated incumbent Democratic Mayor Timothy J. Tenke, while the incumbent Republican supervisors in Oyster Bay and Hempstead enjoyed wide leads and both claimed victory.

Three supervisor seats, three town clerk positions, one mayoral seat, nine town council seats and nine city council seats were up for grabs Tuesday in the three towns and two cities across Nassau.

Hempstead Supervisor Donald X. Clavin Jr., who appeared to sail to an easy win Tuesday, thanked Nassau GOP leader Joe Cairo for steering Republicans to victory.

"We are blessed and thank you for every voter for all these great candidates this year," Clavin said from The Coral House. "Nassau chairman Cairo, every team has a coach and inspiration who drives you."

Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph S. Saladino, whose GOP colleagues also took three council seats, echoed that sentiment.

"Republicans, Conservatives understand we are embarking on a new time in Nassau County," he said. "I think it’s going to be a clean sweep."

In North Hempstead, DeSena appeared to win the open seat left by Supervisor Judi Bosworth, 73, who didn't seek a fifth term.

Democrat Wayne H. Wink Jr., 54, of Roslyn trailed DeSena, 52, of Manhasset, a registered Democrat running on the Republican and Conservative party lines.

Wink, who also had the endorsement of the Common Sense Party, had been the North Hempstead Town clerk since 2013. He has been a town councilman and Nassau County legislator for the 11th District. DeSena is executive director of the nonprofit Manhasset Community Coalition Against Substance Abuse.

"I think we ran a positive campaign on the issues," Wink said Tuesday night before polls closed.

Also on the ballot were candidates seeking council seats in North Hempstead’s 1st, 3rd and 5th districts as well as the town clerk position.

In the City of Glen Cove, Tenke, 59, running on the Democratic and Common Sense Party lines lost to Panzenbeck, 68, a retired Levittown public school teacher making her first run for mayor.

She served three terms on the city council and lost reelection in 2019. Panzenbeck ran on the Republican, Conservative and Tax Revolt Party lines.

Tenke last year pushed through a 6.83% tax hike that busted the tax cap. He said the increase was necessary to limit cuts to service and jobs in a city that had relied on one-shot revenues.

The tax increase, along with the restoration of state and county aid, allowed the city council to keep the residential tax rate flat for the 2022 budget.

Thirteen candidates also competed for six open seats on the Glen Cove City Council.

In Oyster Bay, Saladino, 60, a Republican faced a challenge from Amanda R. Field, 45. She is a real estate agent and a commissioner of the Plainview Water District who ran on the Democratic and Working Family party lines.

In Hempstead, first-term Republican Clavin Jr., 52, appeared to easily defeat Democrat Jason L. Abelove, 51.

Clavin, who also had the endorsement of the Conservative and Tax Revolt parties, had previously served as receiver of taxes for 19 years.

Council seats in Hempstead’s 1st, 4th and 6th districts were up for election as was the role of town clerk.

In Long Beach, six candidates vied for three city council seats. The top two vote-getters are elected to a four-year term and the third place runner-up serves a two-year term.

With John Asbury

By Vera Chinese

vera.chinese@newsday.com@VeraChinese

Vera Chinese joined Newsday in 2017 after working as an editor for the East End lifestyle publication northforker and a general assignment reporter for the New York Daily News.