Ed Lino, a Republican and Conservative candidate for Nassau County ‘s 1st Legislative District seat, says he is running to preserve the county’s quality of life, citing concerns about taxes, public safety and infrastructure.
Lino, 36, grew up in the Bethpage-Levittown area and lives in Rockville Centre with his wife and two daughters. An attorney, he has worked for the Town of Hempstead for more than 15 years and serves as deputy town attorney.
“I have two young daughters,” he said. “I want to make sure that they can grow up in the same Nassau County that I grew up in. I don’t want to give up on Nassau County. It’s meant a lot to me. I feel like it’s made me who I am. I want to be able to try to do my part and try to make it a better place.”
Lino said he would prioritize responsible government spending and seek to freeze county property taxes, arguing officials should review expenditures before considering increases.
“The money is the people’s money, it’s not the government’s money,” he said, “so they should spend it wisely.”
He said he would examine spending on park staffing and road projects to identify efficiencies. He suggested shifting workers between departments, subject to collective bargaining agreements. Lino said he would work with other municipalities and invest in small businesses to create jobs, while exploring state grants.
On public safety, Lino said he would work with police unions and department officials to identify resource needs. He said representatives of the Police Benevolent Association and detectives told him staffing was down and additional support was needed.
“I think we need to support our police,” Lino said. “I think that we need to give them the backing that they deserve and that they need, because they’re the ones that are putting their lives on the line every day, not civilians.”
Lino supports a countywide ban on kratom products, which he described as “gas station heroin.” He said he would work with health officials to increase public awareness about substance misuse. He supports keeping girls’ and boys’ sports separate, saying he believes each should compete in their respective groups.
Infrastructure is another priority. Lino cited Grand Avenue in Baldwin and Lakeview Avenue in Rockville Centre as roads needing attention. He said he would work with local officials to address road, sewer and pothole problems across jurisdictional boundaries and keep residents informed about projects.
Lino pledged to respond promptly to constituents and seek fair distribution of county investments throughout the district, which includes parts of Hempstead, South Hempstead, Rockville Centre, North Baldwin and Roosevelt.
He identified three first-year goals: freezing or lowering taxes, investing in roads, parks and community services, and improving neighborhood safety and relationships with law enforcement.
Lino said he opposes what he characterized as a socialist agenda in New York City and wants to prevent its policies from extending into Nassau County.
He also argued that Democrats hold elected offices representing the district and said voters should consider a change in representation.
“I’m trying to bring a change to that and shake it up,” Lino said.
