Elton McCabe, a civic-minded Republican from Uniondale, is seeking to unseat three-term incumbent Kevan Abrahams (D-Hempstead) in the 1st Legislative District next month. And while both candidates are promising to fight high property taxes, support community outreach programs and crack down on gang-related violence, they are also focusing on the potential for major change in areas like Uniondale and Hempstead if the highly anticipated Lighthouse project moves forward.

McCabe, 43, is a five-year resident of Uniondale and has lived in the district for 20 years. He attended Sewanhaka High School in Floral Park, earned a degree in engineering from Southern Illinois University and served in the Army as a crew chief for the 67th Uniformed Division. He was stationed in Germany for 10 years, and also fought in the Gulf War.

Abrahams, 35, a graduate of Queens College, has served the 1st L.D. since 2002, when, at age 27, he became the youngest person ever elected to the county Legislature. He is now chairman of the Legislature’s Public Works Committee, vice chairman of the Finance Committee and a member of several other committees.

McCabe said he supports the Lighthouse project as a means of reducing the tax burden on local residents and creating much-needed jobs, but that a number of factors — including building heights and the ability of fire trucks and other emergency vehicles to get to the development through heavy traffic — need to be more seriously considered. Other details of the plan — like providing enough water and directing the flow of sewage — are important as well, he added.

“I would say I’m in support of the project,” McCabe said. “I think if they can scale the project back just a little, but I’d like to get the community’s input too.”