Browne seeks to unseat Scannell

The race in the 5th Legislative District pits incumbent Legislator Joe Scannell (D-Baldwin) against Republican and Conservative party candidate Chris Browne.

Scannell has served as a county legislator since 1998, and is seeking his sixth term representing the 5th District. The 47-year-old attorney is a lifelong Baldwin resident. In addition to being the endorsee of the Nassau County Democratic Party, he is also endorsed by the Working Families Party and the Independence Party.

Scannell says he supports smaller government, and that he has worked hard for anti-gang violence funding, against waste, fraud and abuse and with the Legislature’s Democratic majority to lower the county portion of residents' tax bills from 22 percent to below 17 percent over the past decade.

Browne, who was born in Freeport and raised in Rockville Centre, is running against Scannell for the second consecutive election. The 32-year-old attorney has a part-time position on the Town of Hempstead zoning board.

Browne is the endorsee of the Nassau County Republican Party and Conservative Party, having snatched the Conservative endorsement from Scannell in a write-in election win in last month's primary.

Browne says that Nassau County has to address a number of problems, including high property taxes, a broken assessment system and patronage jobs in the administration of County Executive Thomas Suozzi. One of his top priorities, he says, is to repeal the new county tax on electricity and home energy.

With Democrats holding a slim 10-9 advantage on the County Legislature, a win by Browne would give Republicans the majority for the first time in 10 years.

The 5th District encompasses Baldwin, Rockville Centre, South Hempstead, Freeport and Lakeview.

The election is Nov. 3.