Kestenbaum tapped to challenge Santino

It has been over a century since a Democrat last occupied the Hempstead town supervisor’s seat, in 1907. With the nomination of former County Legislator Rita Kestenbaum to challenge Republican Town Councilman Anthony Santino, county Democrats are hoping that will change.

Kestenbaum, 56, of Bellmore, served on the town board in 1999 and 2000. In March she lost to Republican Steven Rhoads in a special election to fill the seat of former County Legislator Dave Denenberg in the 19th District.

Kestenbaum heads a nonprofit organization she founded after her daughter, Carol, a sophomore at Arizona State University, and a friend were murdered in 2007.