Legislature flips to GOP control

It was a shocking night in Nassau County for several local Democrats, most notably County Executive Tom Suozzi, who, as the Herald reached deadline, was ahead by a razor-thin 237 vote margin.

"We're not done yet," said County Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs, as he introduced Suozzi to a cheering crowd.

Suozzi himself was visibly relieved to be holding on to a slim lead — about 150 votes at the time.

"The reason we want to win races is to try and help the people, " Suozzi said. "No matter what happens tonight we're not going to know the answers. ... This is a tough time to be an incumbent, because people are in a bad mood. They're concerned about their future."

With that slim lead and the hope it could hold, Suozzi sent local Democrats home.

One of those leaving was Carrie Solages, who was defeated in his race for County Clerk by incumbent Republican Maureen O'Connell. O'Connell won with 142,774 votes to Solages 86,842 votes.

Incumbent County Comptroller Howard Weitzman trailed challenger George Maragos 115,473 to 114,897 as of Herald deadline.

Closer to home, Republican incumbent John Ciotti defeated Democratic challenger Nina Petraro Bastardi. Ciotti garnered 6.252 votes to Petraro Bastardi's 4,654 with all 49 districts reporting.

"It's a wonderful feeling. The people have spoken," Ciotti said. "I am pleased that the Democratic voters had the courage to cross party lines and vote for their community." The 3rd Legislative District has twice as many registered Democrats as Republicans.

Petraro Bastardi said voter turnout was low because people are feeling disenfranchised by their elected officials. She said that she is still encouraged by how many people have supported her campaign.

Vincent Muscarella, incumbent Legislator for Nassau County's 8th District retained his position Tuesday night, delivering a thumping to his 26-year-old Democratic challenger Gaspare Tumminello.

In unofficial results from the Nassau County Board of Elections, as of press time, Muscarella had defeated Tumminello 11,005 votes to 3,154 votes. Those vote totals are likely to change when the results are certified sometime in the next few weeks.

At what was a somber party at Democratic Headquarters in Uniondale, Tumminello said he wouldn't change anything about how he had run his campaign.

"If I could do it all over again, I would do exactly what I've been doing. I've walked door to door, and I've knocked on as many doors as possible," he said. "Win or lose I'm back again the following year and the year after that. I'm going to be fighting hard and I really want to get in office, and be the public servant of the people."

Muscarella, by contrast, basked in the glow of victory for a newly resurgent local Republican Party in Westbury at Mirelli's.