Jacob Schuster for Nassau Legislative District 19
![Jacob Schuster, Democratic candidate for Nassau County Legislature District 19](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.newsday.com%2Fimage-service%2Fversion%2Fc%3AMGVmNmMxM2YtMzgzNS00%3AM2YtMzgzNS00ZmM1NGUy%2Fslvote210504.jpg%3Ff%3DLandscape%2B16%253A9%26w%3D770%26q%3D1&w=1920&q=80)
Jacob Schuster, Democratic candidate for Nassau County Legislature District 19 Credit: James Escher
Democrat Jacob I. Schuster, working at a law firm while awaiting his bar results, is just 26, but his political knowledge and instincts belie his years. His work as an aide to State Sen. John Brooks, and on previous political campaigns in the district, has given Schuster, of Bellmore, a thorough political grounding. His time as an EMT has given him a unique look at constituents' lives.
On issue after issue, from demanding county police and other public-facing employees be vaccinated, to supporting the construction of more and varied housing, to understanding why police reform is crucial for Nassau, Schuster gets it right.
Bellmore Republican Steven D. Rhoads, 52, is a master of constituent service whose knowledge of every road and park in the district is encyclopedic. But he's wrong to oppose mandating vaccines for county employees, and he's less aggressive than Schuster in pushing for new housing.
Newsday endorses Schuster.
Nassau Legislative District 19 covers Bellmore, Wantagh, Seaford, parts of Freeport and Merrick.
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