Serving Williston Park, East Williston, Mineola, Albertson and Searingtown
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Friday, November 10, 2023
Vol. 72, No. 45
GUIDE TO EDUCATION
WHERE ADHAMI LIVES QUESTIONED
N.Y. GOP REPS FAIL IN BID TO OUST SANTOS
PAGES 25-29
PAGE 2
PAGE 6
North Hempstead goes red? DeSena easily bests Kaiman as GOP nears 4-3 Town Board edge with Scott leading Zuckerman BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y, CAMERYN OAKES AND K A R I N A KO VA C
PHOTO BY KARINA KOVAC
Supervisor Jennifer DeSena celebrates her win on election night on Tuesday, Nov. 8.
North Hempstead Republican Supervisor Jennifer DeSena was reelected to a second two-year term Tuesday night after defeating Democrat challenger Jon Kaiman, who held the role from 2004 to 2013. The seven-member North Hempstead Town Board also ďŹipped from a Democratic to a Republican majority, according to unoďŹcial results from the Nassau County Board of Election. Democrats held onto seats in Districts 4 and 6 but apparently lost the District 2 seat held by Democrat incumbent Peter Zuckerman, who trailed Republican Edward Scott by less than 200 votes with absentee ballots still to be counted. If the vote holds, Republicans would have a 4-3 advantage anda majority in North Hempstead for the ďŹrst time this century. Republican Mary Jo Collins also defeated current Democrat Council Member Veronica Lurvey, ďŹipping a seat that was previously held by Democrat Charlie Berman.
DeSena had 26,405 votes out of 47,978 total cast, or 55%, according to the board of elections. The Manhasset resident in a victory speech thanked her supporters including County GOP Chair Joe Cairo, local law enforcement and the local CSEA unit, among others. âThis is a victory for everyone in this room, this is not something I could have done myself,â DeSena said from the Coral House in Baldwin. âThank you to my team inside the oďŹce and my running mates. We won because we give tax relief and we are governing better, itâs a massive victory.â Scott is leading Zuckerman by 128 votes in District 2 with 100% of the precincts counted, according to the board of elections, but not all absentee ballots were counted as of Tuesday night, Cairo said. Scott did not declare victory Tuesday night but told the crowd he was feeling âconďŹdent.â If Scott wins the District 2 seat, Republicans would hold a majority in North Hempstead, Hempstead and Oyster Bay. Continued on Page 18
Nassau GOP keeps 12-7 majority BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y, CAMERYN OAKES AND K A R I N A KO VA C
Democrat incumbent Josh Lafazan lost to Republican challenger Samantha Goetz to represent the countyâs 18th Legislative District, which inNassau County Republicans main- cludes Albertson, East Hills, Herricks, tained its 12-7 majority in the Legis- part of Roslyn Heights, Searingtown lature, ďŹipping one seat and losing and Williston Park following this yearâs redistricting. another Tuesday night.
Goetz, of Locust Valley, thanked her supporters Tuesday night at the Coral House in Baldwin and said she won because âwe support our police, our law and order, and we held the line on taxes.â A lively crowd in Baldwin grew even more so shortly before 11:30 p.m. Tuesday night when Nassau Republican Chair Joe Cairo was joined on stage by candidates and elected oďŹcials. Cairo announced win after win through diďŹerent county races until shortly after midnight, another strong result for Republicans after a
red wave in Nassau in 2021. â100 years from now theyâll be talking about the Cairo dynasty,â Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said to the crowd. Republicans now hold control of both of Long Islandâs county executive seats, county Legislatures, both district attorneyâs oďŹces and all four of its congressional seats. In Nassau, Republicans maintained majorities in the Towns of Hempstead and Oyster Bay and will ďŹip North Hempstead if Republican challenger Edward Scott maintains his 128-vote lead against Democrat
incumbent Peter Zuckerman after absentee ballots are counted. District 8 Republican incumbent John GiuďŹrĂŠ defeated Democrat challenger Erica Rico by a margin of 74% to 26%. Ex-Mineola Mayor Scott Strauss beat Democrat Neeraj Kumar by a margin of 65% to 35% to represent the countyâs 9th District, which includes Bellerose, Bellerose Terrace, East Williston, Floral Park, Garden City Park, Mineola, New Hyde Park and part of both Roslyn Heights and North New Hyde Park. Continued on Page 19