By Andrew Coen, Nicole Falco and Paul Wein
Ciotti garnered 53 percent of the vote, while Mirza captured 47 percent. The results indicate that the Republican stronghold in the 3rd District, which includes North Valley Stream, Valley Stream, Elmont, Franklin Square, Bellerose Terrace and parts of West Hempstead, is waning. Once a largely white and staunchly Republican district, the communities' changing demographics are giving rise to an ever increasing Democratic population.
Ciotti, who grew up in the district, said that voter registration doesn't influence the way he does his job. "It comes down to what I've always said," he said. "I represent all of the people all of the time."
Of his latest victory, the incumbent said, "I got my message out. People know it's real. It comes down to trust. That's why they're giving me a sixth term."
Mirza, an Elmont resident and a political neophyte, may have been unsuccessful in his bid to unseat Ciotti, but the Democratic Party is calling his excellent showing a possible foreshadowing of future elections. As for the candidate himself, Mirza said he was happy with the way his campaign went, and that he wouldn't be playing Monday-morning quarterback.
"As a candidate and competitive person, I always think we can do more, but under the circumstances I think we did OK," Mirza said. "You can sit back after the game is over and talk about what you could have done, what you should have done, what you would have done, [but] it's all in hindsight."
Becker enjoys 2-to-1 margin
Republican Francis X. Becker (R-Lynbrook) proved once again to be the voters' choice in the 6th Legislative District. He easily won re-election to a sixth term, trouncing challenger Daniel Alter, a Democrat from Malverne, by a healthy 2-to-1 margin. Becker garnered 68 percent of the vote to Alter's 32 percent.
Voters return Toback
A hotly contested race in the 7th Legislative District came to a close Tuesday night with voters returning Democrat Jeff Toback (D-Oceanside) to a fourth term in the Nassau County Legislature, as he defeated Republican opponent Jeff Katz. With absentee ballots still to be counted, Toback had captured 55 percent of the vote, while Katz, an attorney from Lawrence, garnered 45 percent.
The vote ended a fiery race, which saw both candidates attacking one another over a variety of issues, most notably police protection and taxes. In the end, however, more voters were satisfied with Toback's performance than were moved by Katz's campaign against him.
"I'm honored, and looking forward to my fourth term," said Toback. "The people in the 7th District know the issues and pay attention to the issues, and I'm honored that they have elected me for another term."
The 7th District includes the Five Towns and portions of Valley Stream, East Rockaway, Oceanside and Island Park.
County-wide results
Democrats gathered at the Long Island Marriott in Uniondale late Tuesday night, after the polls closed, were understandably in a celebratory mood. As of midnight, the Nassau County Board of Elections was reporting that in the battle for Nassau County executive, Democratic incumbent Tom Suozzi had garnered 59 percent of the vote, to 38 percent for Republican challenger Greg Peterson, a former Hempstead town supervisor. Democratic incumbent Nassau County Comptroller Howard Weitzman also won a second term, with 53 percent of the votes, to 47 percent for Republican Donald Clavin, the Town of Hempstead's receiver of taxes. And the Democrats retained their 10-9 majority in the county Legislature.
"We did it!" proclaimed Suozzi in his victory speech. "The people have spoken. Tonight, the people recognized that we cleaned up after the elephants. They ran a campaign on fear, and we ran a campaign on hope, and tonight we kept hope alive."
Peterson attributed his loss to the bad taste left in voters' mouths by the costly mistakes of the previous Republican administration. "I think a lot of it is the prior administration is still coming back to haunt the whole campaign," he said.
In a surprise, Republican Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon narrowly lost his long-time spot as the county's chief prosecutor, after a competitive race from Democratic challenger and Locust Valley resident Kathleen Rice, who garnered 51 percent of the vote.
Town supervisor race
The Town of Hempstead's Republican incumbent supervisor, Kate Murray, no doubt breathed a huge sigh of relief when reports late Tuesday night showed she had won re-election over Democrat challenger Harvey Levinson, who has served for the last two years as Nassau County assessor. With all precincts reporting, Murray had 59 percent of the votes to Levinson's 41 percent.
"It was a great night for the Town of Hempstead," Murray said. "The entire Murray team came through strong. It's really an affirmation that we're doing the right thing by the Town of Hempstead. I'm pleased that the residents cut through the mudslinging."
Looking ahead, Murray said she plans to focus on the town's new $100 million road improvement project, creating more affordable housing and revitalizing the town's downtown areas.
In addition to controlling the town supervisor seat, the Republicans also maintained a lock on the town board at 5-1, with incumbent Republican councilmen Anthony Santino of East Rockaway and Gary Hudes of Levittown winning easily. Incumbent Dorothy Goosby of Hempstead retained the lone Democratic seat on the board.
Complete election results are available at www.liherald.com.
Mike Schnitzel, Brian Zanzonico, Nick Buglione and John C. O'Connell contributed to this story. Comments about it? NFalco@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 208.
