Baldwin Legislator Abrahams to head Dems

Kevan Abrahams was recently elected by the Nassau County Democratic Comittie to head the Democratic Caucus in the County Legislature. Abrahams, 37, has been the legislator in the 1st District since 2002, serving Baldwin, Hempstead, Roosevelt and Uniondale. When he was first elected, he was the youngest legislator in the history of Nassau County; now he will become the first African American in county history to lead a major party.

“It was tremendously humbling, and I am honored that my colleagues have kindly elected me the leader for the next two years,” Abrahams said. He will be inaugurated on Jan. 2, replacing Diane Yatauro, the legislator in the 18th District, who chose not to run for re-election as the Democratic presiding officer, a position she has held since 2008.

“I am so pleased that Kevan Abrahams will be our new caucus leader,” said Legislator Judy Jacobs, a Democrat who represents the 16th District and who served as the Legislature’s presiding officer from 2000 to 2007. “He maintains a thorough understanding of county budgeting and finances, which is so sorely needed these days. He also brings proven leadership and a firm dedication to our principles and values.”

As of press time, control of the Legislature still hung in the balance, as races in the 14th and 18th Districts remained too close to call (see story, next page). According to the latest vote count, however, Republicans held a 10-9 edge, making it likely that Abrahams would be the minority leader. Peter Schmitt, a Republican from Massapequa who represents the 12th District, is the leader of the Republican Caucus and the current presiding officer of the Legislature.

In addition to his duties as the Democratic leader, Abrahams also serves as vice chair of the Rules Committee and is a member of the Economic and Community Development and Labor, Government Services and Operations, Public Safety, Education, Planning and Minority Affairs committees.

“I think we’re going to be able to lead on the mantra of stabilizing residents’ property taxes,” Abrahams said, “as well as focusing on enhancing quality of life, all at the same time, while ensuring public safety is at its highest standard in Nassau County.

“We’re going to scrutinize the borrowing practices that are existing right now,” he continued. “From the minority legislative point of view, we’re going to make sure that we do not borrow one particular dime that we do not need to.”

Abrahams first joined the County Legislature staff in 2000, as deputy finance director, eventually moving up to finance director. He has also served as a legislative assistant and deputy district director for former U.S. Rep. Floyd H. Flake and as district representative for Rep. Carolyn McCarthy.

Abrahams, who is married and has two children, has also worked in the private sector as a financial analyst for Astoria Federal Savings Bank. He earned a degree in political science from Queens College, and also attended Baruch College’s MBA program.

“I haven’t been here the longest, but I’ve been here long enough to realize how to be an effective leader, and how to get things done here in Nassau County,” he said. “But at the same time, be able to reach across the aisle and work with the majority leader in Peter Schmitt, and work with county executive [Ed Mangano]. And I think that is what people are expecting, for their government to work together.”