Editorial: Solages in Nassau 3rd District

The bitter battle to represent this majority minority district heated up even before the race kicked off between incumbent Republican John Ciotti and Democrat Carrié Solages.

It began this spring when the GOP-controlled legislature redrew district lines in such a way that blacks and Hispanics would no longer have been in the majority here. In August, the state's top court ruled the new map was illegal.

Ciotti, 59, of North Valley Stream, has represented the district since 1996, when the first Nassau legislators were sworn in. Now the deputy presiding officer, he's a seasoned player adept at bringing money to the district for things such as street lighting and beautification projects. But the cynical Republican redistricting bid put partisan self interest above the interests of district residents.

The issue of race flared again two weeks ago, when a Ciotti volunteer got into an altercation with Solages' sister over signs he posted on a fence outside Solages' campaign headquarters. The volunteer was caught on videotape saying, "Don't worry, we're gonna put them on the back of the bus where they belong."

Solages, 32, of Elmont, is an attorney and lifelong resident of the district. He says elected officials lack the political courage to bring spending into line with revenue, and blames them for putting county finances in such disarray that a state financial oversight board has intervened.

He would be an important voice in the fight to retain reliable bus service now that Nassau has fashioned a still-secret deal to privatize Long Island Bus that could eventually result in higher fares and, possibly, reduced services. Many residents of the district rely on public transit. While expressing concern about fare hikes and route cuts, Ciotti supports privatization. Solages, a former Nassau human rights commissioner, is well-informed and would be a strong advocate for this district that Ciotti supported splitting up. Newsday endorses Solages.