Town of Hempstead supervisor race remains undecided

Posted

More than a week after Election Day, the Hempstead Town supervisor race remains undecided.

According to a representative from the Nassau County Board of Elections, affidavit and emergency ballots are still being counted in the race between incumbent Supervisor Laura Gillen, a Democrat, and Republican challenger Don Clavin.

After the emergency and affidavit ballots are tallied, the board will then review absentee ballots. It has until Nov. 29 to declare a winner in the race. On Election Day, Clavin had 50 percent of the vote, while Gillen received 49 percent and Independence Party candidate Diane Madden garnered 1 percent.

Gillen became the first Democratic town supervisor in more than a century when she defeated Anthony Santino in 2017. She was seeking a second term. Clavin has served as the town’s receiver of taxes since 2001. Though the race was not officially declared in his favor, Clavin gave a victory speech after polls closed on Nov. 5.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have made commitments, we have made promises, and we are going to deliver that to the taxpayers by putting them first,” Clavin said. “I intend to keep my promises. I intend to keep every promise I made on my campaign trail.”

Gillen did not concede the race, and the board has until the day after Thanksgiving to declare a victor.

Check LIHerald.com for updates on this story.