New twists in 5th District race

For the past several months, both incumbent Nassau County Legislator Joe Scannell (D- Baldwin) and his Republican challenger, Chris Browne from Rockville Centre, have each claimed to embody Conservative Party ideals. But now it’s up to 5th District Conservative voters to decide who will represent them in the November election.

Scannell currently holds the Conservative Party endorsement, but after some local Conservatives petitioned to force a primary in the 5th District next Tuesday, Browne now has a chance to knock Scannell off the line as a write-in candidate.

And as a way of insuring that Browne is on an additional party line in the event he does not win the Conservative Party endorsement, Republican supporters filed a petition to get him on the recently formed Tax Revolt Party line in November. But in a move that Republicans said was improper, the Democratic Election Commissioner, William Biamonte, challenged the validity of those signatures. Republicans and Democrats were scheduled to appear on the matter in court on Sept. 8.

In addition to door-to-door campaigning, both Scannell and Browne have been appealing to voters through the mail, sending flyers to district residents.

Scannell also faces a challenge next Tuesday from Mechielle Chapman of Baldwin on the Independent Party line.

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