By:Scott Brinton
Republicans offered one big surprise in their Town of Hempstead nominating convention, which preceded the GOP's county convention. They gave the town clerk nod to state Assemblywoman Kathleen Murray of Levittown, who won reelection to the state Legislature only last fall.
Republican Chairman Joseph Mondello, a close, longtime friend of the Murray family, confirmed the nomination himself. "The chair is very happy to announce" Murray's nod, Mondello said. He also touted the assemblywoman's loyalty to the Republican Party.
In an interview after the convention, Murray said the party tapped her to run for Hempstead clerk after Daniel Fisher Jr., of Salisbury, recently announced he would not run for the post.
"To get into local politics, to expand my [constituency] base by six" times as many people, "I jumped at the opportunity," Murray said.
Other than the Murray nomination, the town convention went as expected.
Supervisor Richard Guardino of Point Lookout, who Republicans said ranked among Hempstead's greatest supervisors, was nominated for the post again. Guardino said the town has held the line on taxes while improving services. "We are right on the issues. We are getting the job done in the Town of Hempstead," he said.
Other nominations:
