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Partly Cloudy with Haze Long Island Republicans back Lee Zeldin for governor
Republicans — at least those in Nassau County — believe they have a chance to reclaim the governor’s mansion this year, and are throwing their support behind U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin to make it happen.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and other party officials made that endorsement official Feb. 10 at the party’s county headquarters in Westbury.
Zeldin, 42, who represents the congressional district that includes his home in Shirley, first stepped into the gubernatorial race last spring when Andrew Cuomo still held the top job. Cuomo resigned last August in the wake of a sexual misconduct scandal.
“We had to nominate somebody that could win,” Blakeman said, adding that Zeldin has the principles, values, experience, energy and passion to be a great governor. He “appeals to a wide range of residents in New York state. Across the board, he is somebody who will represent all of the people of the state of New York, and not just special interests.”
Local Republicans also like Zeldin’s stand against bail reform and efforts to “defund” the police, as well as ongoing coronavirus pandemic restrictions, congestion pricing, and Gov. Kathy Hochul’s single-family zoning proposal intended to allow for more regulated apartments inside homes.
“One of the most important functions of government is to protect our citizens,” said Rich Nicollelo, the Nassau County Legislature’s presiding officer. “New York needs a governor that understands that.”
If elected, Zeldin would become the state’s first Republican governor since George Pataki left office in 2006. Zeldin originally opened his Smithtown law practice in 2008, which he maintained until he was elected to the State Senate two years later.
Zeldin said he believes it is important for the state to have “more local control and less Hochul control,” and that if elected, “we are not going to waste any time — all Covid mandates end on Day One.” Born at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, Zeldin says “there has never been a governor in the state of New York with as many Nassau connections” as him.
Also on his agenda if he takes office, Zeldin wants to remove Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, targeting him for his reported lenient policies on prosecuting certain crimes.
Levittown legislator John Ferretti says Zeldin stands for everything people in the suburbs stand for. “I want my children to be able to live here when they grow up,” Ferretti said. “In order to do that, we need to keep the taxes down and the streets safe. And those are two things that Lee Zeldin will get under control.”
Zeldin has also championed a platform telling parents they “do not relinquish their right to be in charge of their child’s upbringing,” especially when it comes to what he describes as quality education without “advancing divisive curriculums in schools,” such as critical race theory.
“We should be teaching kids more civics where they are learning about everything that is great about America,” Zeldin said, “rather than trying to pit them against each other.”
Tom McKevitt, a Republican county legislator from East Meadow, cited high crime rates and problems with the education system as reasons why he backs Zeldin, adding that New York needs a “new perspective.”
Zeldin is part of a crowded field vying for the Republican nomination, which includes Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, Lewis County Sheriff Mike Carpinelli, Queens businessman Derrick Gibson and Andrew Giuliani, the son of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
The winner of the primary could face Hochul on Nov. 8, or one of several other Democrats who have announced bids for the state’s top spot, including U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi and New York City public advocate Jumaane Williams.
