An opportunity to do good presented itself. I went for it.

On Nov. 7, I was honored and humbled to be elected to the Nassau County Legislature by the residents of the 1st Legislative District, which comprises the Village of Rockville Centre and most of the Village of Hempstead.

I was inspired to run for the Legislature for several reasons. First, I thought being a legislator would provide a larger platform and greater resources to continue giving back to the two communities that have meant the most to my family and me, Hempstead and Rockville Centre. I grew up in Hempstead and raised my family in Rockville Centre, where I have lived since 2006.

Second, I believe most residents are exhausted by the current political climate, and want representation that is reasonable, pragmatic, results-oriented and inclusive. After a great deal of thought, I came to the conclusion that I had to follow the advice that I’ve given to my children: Don’t be a spectator in life. When an opportunity to do good presents itself, go for it.

The Legislature is the governing body of the county. It was created in 1996 as a replacement for the Nassau County Board of Supervisors, which was ruled to be an unconstitutional form of government because it violated the principle of one person, one vote.

The county is divided into 19 legislative districts, each of which has a representative in the Legislature. Every 10 years, the county is required to reapportion the legislative districts based on the federal census. As a result, the most recent county legislative map was adopted in last year, and in 2024, the Legislature’s 15th term begins.

The Legislature writes, reviews and approves local laws, provides oversight of the county executive, and enacts the county’s budget, which this year is more than $4.1 billion. The budget funds essential public health, infrastructure, environmental protection, sewer treatment and public safety services, among others.

The Legislature is based in the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building, on Franklin Avenue in Mineola. The legislators and the county executive maintain offices and staff in the building, and you can reach my office at (516) 571-6201 or sdavis@nassaucountyny.gov. Legislative sessions are open to the public, and scheduled sessions are held twice a month. The 2024 legislative calendar can be found at nassaucountyny.gov/2357/Legislative-Meeting-Schedule.

I believe that the best way to effectively represent the 1st District is to be aware of the issues of most concern to its residents, and to do my best to address them in the Legislature. Chief among those issues is making Nassau County a more affordable place to live and raise a family. Residents should always be the priority, and we can ensure that by returning surplus tax dollars to them, and by expeditiously invest the nearly $378 million we have remaining from the American Rescue Plan Act and opioid settlement funds in our communities.

I look forward to working closely with community leaders and organizations to raise awareness of county resources such as mental health services and youth programs, and to strengthen bonds with our partners in county and village law enforcement to ensure public safety and vigilance against hate crimes.

It is also imperative to collaboratively identify areas of our infrastructure that are in need of repair and improvement. In the Village of Hempstead, we are poised to utilize the tens of millions of dollars committed to traffic safety and infrastructure initiatives that Legislator Siela Bynoe secured through her service and advocacy.

In short, I am your voice in the Legislature, and I intend to use my experience as a father, coach, mentor and attorney for over 30 years to serve the needs of all residents in the newly formed Legislative District 1. I believe the best way to advocate for you is to listen, because I know that residents want to be heard. I welcome your constructive input and feedback, and I am committed to fulfilling my duties with transparency, an open mind, and a hand extended to every resident of our district.

Together, I know we can accomplish great things for our community. By working together and building consensus, everyone wins.

Scott Davis, of Rockville Centre, represents Nassau County’s 1st Legislative District.