Curran, Ra win Assembly seats

Lynbrook Mayor Brian Curran won the race for the 14th Assembly District to replace outgoing Assemblyman Bob Barra, who did not seek re-election after holding the position for 10 years.

Curran, a Republican, defeated Democrat Dermond Thomas of Valley Stream, an attorney. Curran garnered 22,139 votes to 14,430 for Thomas.

Curran said he was thankful for the support of the voters and his family. “I promise I will work hard for the entire district," he said. The 14th Assembly District includes the village of Valley Stream.

Thomas, an attorney, say he may consider running again in the future. “What we see in Albany is not working,” he said. “It’s not effective. I’m committed to this either now or later. Whenever the time comes.”

Ed Ra, a Republican from Franklin Square, won the 21st Assembly District seat being vacated by Tom Alfano. The district includes North Valley Stream.

Ra defeated Elmont civic activist Pat Nicolosi, 17,899 to 14,625.

When he goes to Albany in January, Ra said the economy will be the first thing on his mind. “It was a great victory," he said. I’m very satisfied. I realize there’s a lot of work to do.”

Representing South Valley Stream in the 20th Assembly District, Democrat Harvey Weisenberg narrowly defeated his Republican challenger, Joshua Wanderer. Weisenberg had 18,989 votes to Wanderer's 17,194.

State Sen. Dean Skelos, a Republican from Rockville Centre, easily won re-election. Skelos received 65 percent of the vote and defeated George Sava of Woodmere.

Carolyn McCarthy will continue to represent Valley Stream in Congress, defeating local Legislator Fran Becker. McCarthy, a Democrat from Mineola, captured 53 percent of the vote.

Becker, of Lynbrook, has been a Nassau County Legislator since 1996. In his campaign for Congress, Becker said he did everything he could to appeal to voters. “The campaign was an amazing experience," he said. You meet a whole new group of people who believe in you and support you.”