Sunday, June 15, 2025
For as long as I can remember, I have had a passion for public service and serving the community. I have now been provided the opportunity to pursue this calling from a new platform, as the legislator for Nassau County’s 2nd Legislative District.
As a Uniondale High School student, I began volunteering for Planned Parenthood, where I immersed myself in comprehensive outreach campaigns to prevent teen pregnancy and reduce the rate of sexually transmitted infections. My experiences as a teen advocate highlighted how knowledge can empower people to have autonomy over their health and their lives.
Later, at age 18, I joined the Uniondale Fire Department. Over the past 14 years, I became the first woman to serve as captain of Manor Company 3, and went through the ranks again to serve as second lieutenant. As first responders, we often meet the people we serve on their worst days, and those heart-wrenching experiences gave me a level of compassion and empathy for the hardships that my neighbors are navigating.
All while balancing work and volunteering, I had the privilege of being elected to the Uniondale Public Library board — where I served as president and was later elected to a second term as trustee — and I have dedicated additional free time to helping Uniondale civic associations in their activities and advocacy.
My journey so far has allowed me to interact with the community and develop a deeper understanding of the issues at hand. The ability to help out at those critical points has only intensified my passion for leveraging government as a vessel for improving lives.
As is often said, the things that are worth doing are seldom easy — and that’s certainly true in my case. I first threw my hat into the ring for public office in 2021, when I ran for Hempstead town clerk. In 2023 I ran for town supervisor. I didn’t prevail in those races, but I also didn’t see them as losses, because the experiences encouraged me to continue the advocacy work that I was doing in the community. When the opportunity emerged to run in a special election to succeed former Legislator Siela A. Bynoe after her State Senate victory, I once again took the plunge — and after a one-month sprint to a Feb. 25 special election, I prevailed.
The trust that my constituents have placed in me to fulfill this role is something I take very seriously, and I will continue to be an energetic advocate who fights to ensure that every portion of our county is properly resourced and represented equitably. I became a legislator at a time when there is an inexplicable impasse over the delivery of more than $1 million in grant funds for first responders in minority caucus districts. As a first responder myself, I know that having proper equipment can make the difference between life and death, and we cannot delay the delivery of these resources one moment longer.
As I work to restore equity and proper balance to the operations of local government, I want to be a bridge between law enforcement agencies and the residents of majority-minority communities, several of which are found in Legislative District 2. Nassau County is home to one of America’s best-trained police departments, and I know that, through communication and camaraderie, we can dispel common misconceptions and strengthen the relationships that are at the core of respectful and responsive community-focused policing.
Most of all, I want to forge a path for other millennials who want to get involved in public service and run for elected office. From a young age, I learned how challenging it is to make ends meet in Nassau County. Those firsthand experiences have given me insights into how we can create new opportunities for young leaders and make impacts that benefit us all.
As we navigate one of the most consequential moments in the history of our county and our nation, I am living proof that our voice is our power. With persistence, purpose and caring hearts, we have the power to make a tremendous positive impact on the world around us — and I encourage you to join me in the fight for a better future.
Olena Nicks, of Uniondale, represents Nassau County’s 2nd Legislative District.
