Nassau Legislature: Chin leads Strauss in key race
Unofficial returns show a 106-vote gap that could reduce the Republican majority to a single seat.
By Naomi Tesfaye ·
Juleigh Chin holds a 106-vote lead over incumbent Scott Strauss in the Nassau County Legislature election for the Mineola district. Unofficial results from the Nassau County Board of Elections place the longtime Herricks school board member ahead of the Republican legislator. The outcome depends on a recount of the precincts.
Republicans currently control the chamber with an 11-8 majority. If Chin wins, the GOP hold narrows to 10-9. That slim margin would challenge the leadership of County Executive Bruce Blakeman and the presiding officer. The race is one of the few competitive contests in a county where Democrats also took control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The local results align with a wider Democratic performance. Voters unseated Hempstead Town Supervisor John Ferretti, marking the second time in a decade that a Democrat won that seat in a Republican stronghold. In the county capital, freshman legislator Scott Davis of Rockville Centre won 71% of the vote against Edward Lino. In the second district, Viviana Russell of Westbury defeated Lamont Johnson 72% to 27%.
Other district races showed clear partisan divides. Carrié Solages of Valley Stream won his eighth term in the third district with 72% of the vote. Patrick Mullaney of Oceanside secured a third term in the fourth district with 55% of the vote. Olena Nicks of Uniondale won the fifth district 68% to 31%, while Debra Mulé of Freeport took the sixth district 71% to 28%.
Presiding Officer Howard Kopel of Lawrence won his tenth term in the seventh district with 70% of the vote. John Giuffre of Stewart Manor beat Joy Jankunas 61% to 38% in the eighth district. Mazi Pilip of Great Neck won the 10th district 61% to 38%, and Delia Deriggi-Whitton of Glen Cove won the 11th district 61% to 38%.
Michael Giangregorio of Merrick won the 12th district 55% to 44% over Michael Vanunu. Thomas McKevitt of East Meadow won the 13th district 53% to 46%. Cynthia Nunez of Valley Stream won the 14th district 65% to 34%, and Kayla Knight of Wantagh won the 15th district 64% to 34%.
Jared Behr won the 16th district 55% to 44% in a special election to replace retiring legislator Arnold Drucker. Rose Marie Walker of Farmingdale won the 17th district 58% to 41%, and Samantha Goetz of Locust Valley won the 18th district 59% to 39%. James Kennedy of Massapequa won a sixth term in the 19th district.
Chin said she feels good about the campaign regardless of the final count. She stated the team ran a good race and is doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing. The Board of Elections will finalize the numbers after the recount process concludes.
