By John C. O'Connell
Nassau Democrats convened May 28 to nominate candidates for county offices up for election in November, also naming their picks for races in the towns of Hempstead, North Hempstead and Oyster Bay, judicial elections and the vote in the City of Glen Cove.
Party leaders say they have a more realistic chance than ever of electing more Democrats county-wide, and visions of increasing their majority in the county Legislature and improving their lot in Hempstead -- maybe even taking the town supervisor's job -- have them acting focused and energized. And fear of blowing their chances through infighting has them trying hard to keep order.
The one loose thread in an otherwise tightly knit quilt of 58 Democrats running this year is the battle for the party's candidate for Hempstead town supervisor. At Wednesday night's convention, Dorothy Goosby, now the only Democrat on the town board, vied for the nomination with Barbara Patton, now the Democratic commissioner of the county Board of Elections.
Patton won with a strong 71 percent of the vote, capturing the party's nomination to unseat Republican Kate Murray, the current supervisor, who was appointed by her party when Richard Guardino retired earlier this year.
But Patton's nomination isn't stopping Goosby, who announced at the convention that she is running for supervisor, too, saying she will contest Patton in a Democrat primary.
The Democrats' lauded leader, County Executive Thomas Suozzi, did the same thing two years ago when he launched a primary battle against Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli, who received the party's nod for the executive race at its convention in 2001. Suozzi beat DiNapoli in that primary and defeated the Republican candidate, Bruce Bent, in the general election.
"I will get the necessary petitions together [for a primary challenge], starting right now," Goosby said after the vote.
Patton was the clear favorite of the convention. Nominated by legislators Roger Corbin and Jeff Toback, Patton wasted no time starting her campaign against Murray.
"I ask for your vote tonight not because I've done favors or because it's my turn or because I'm owed the job; that's the Republican way," Patton said before the nomination balloting. "I ask for your vote because I'm experienced, I'm committed and I have the fire in the belly to end one-party rule that has run the Town of Hempstead. ... My work ethic qualifies me. What qualifies me is that I can win. ... I have never lost a race and I don't mean to start now. So let's get it done in November."
But Goosby said she's the best candidate because she knows the town, knows the town council, would make the best supervisor and can win in November. She ran three consecutive times for her council seat and won each time.
Quoting one of Suozzi's campaign slogans, Goosby nominator Mary Adams of Roosevelt, said, "Can she win? Yes she can, because she's done it."
"I am the voice of the people," Goosby said. "I will win the primary and I will win the Town of Hempstead supervisor's race."
As that single party fight rages, the rest of the Democrat contingent of candidates celebrated their unified assault on the GOP. In his motivational speech to the delegates, Suozzi reprised the theme of his own campaign, blaming the "machine Republicans" for the mess the county was in when he became county executive.
"The Democrats can do it smarter and better," Suozzi said. "I ask you to put aside any personal agendas you may have tonight. ... Let's break the back of the Republican machine once and for all."
The entire 19-member Nassau County Legislature is up for election in November. The Democrats have had a majority since 1999, and continue to hold power by one seat.
Town of Hempstead council positions for the 2nd, 3rd and 5th districts are also up for election, as well as the town clerk and receiver of taxes.
Democrat George Bassias was nominated to run against Republican Ed Ambrosino in the 2nd council district. Ambrosino, of North Valley Stream, was appointed to the position in April.
Democrat Vincent Grasso was nominated to challenge incumbent Republican James Darcy in the 3rd council district. Darcy won a special election to the position in November 2000, having served as a state assemblyman and mayor of Valley Stream.
And Democrat Jeff Gold was picked to try to beat incumbent Republican Angie Cullin in the 5th.
In the town clerk's race, the Democrats chose Kevin Gorman to run against newly appointed incumbent Mark Bonilla of Seaford. Democrat Gerald LaMonica was nominated to try to unseat the incumbent receiver of taxes, Republican Donald Clavin, who was elected in November 2001, having been appointed by Guardino in February 2001.
