By Anthony Rifilato
Control of the 19-member legislature is at a critical juncture. The body is split even at 9-9 since Williams' departure, and a Republican win could stall Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi's proposed budget, which he hopes will put the county on track for a fiscal recovery.
The Democrats have given the nod to Hempstead resident Kevan Abrahams, a 27-year-old budget director for the county legislative majority. The Republicans have chosen Ricardo LaRosa of Uniondale,
a 39-year-old first generation Costa Rican and career counselor for the Town of Hempstead.
Both candidates say that economic issues top their agendas.
Abrahams, who calls himself a "new voice for the community," said the main issues of his campaign will be economic viability, affordable housing, and more health, senior and youth services.
"I believe in empowering our community by providing more small business resources, and tax incentives through Empire State Zones which would give the community a little more economic strength. Economic viability is at the top of my agenda," said Williams, a Hempstead resident.
Abrahams, a 1996 Queens College graduate, worked for two years at Astoria Federal Savings as a senior financial analyst before taking his current position. He also has worked on numerous campaigns, including Williams', and in 1997 worked on Capitol Hill for Congressman Floyd Flake from Queens.
LaRosa is also making economic development a top priority. He would like to utilize government tax incentives, as well as pursue grants for social services from the private sector.
While LaRosa wants to help get the county budget passed, he said he's against Suozzi's proposed 19.4-percent tax hike.
"I think that's a hard pill to swallow," LaRosa said. "A lot of work needs to be done. Jobs have left [the district] and we have to keep companies from leaving."
LaRosa, a self-described community activist, has worked as treasurer for the Hempstead Hispanic Civic Association, was Board of Directors for the Kiwanis Club, and ran unsuccessfully for the 2000 and 2002 School Board elections in Hempstead and Uniondale.
In addition to economic development, both candidates believe that social services are a priority for the district, but look down different avenues for funding services.
High on Abrahams' list are the dwindling day-care services in the district and the need for affordable housing.
Abrahams said that with the minimum income needed to own a home in Nassau County about $60,000 a year, residents of the mainly blue-collar community have a hard time becoming homeowners. "Parents want to take advantage of the schools but there is no means for them to own their own property," said Abrahams, who would like to see funding expanded through the Department of Housing and Governmental Affairs.
In keeping with Williams' agenda, Abrahams said he would also work on passing legislation introduced by the former legislator which would help minority- and women-owned businesses compete for county contracts.
Abrahams also noted the need to address issues which are usually ignored and taboo in the community, such as high HIV/AIDS-infection rates and teenage pregnancy. He would also like to restore more services geared towards seniors, such as home health aids, and boost more after school youth activities.
For his part, LaRosa said he wants more academic-training and after-school programs for young people, without tapping into local school budgets. The county should give money to private organizations, such as the Police Activity League, to help run programs, and aggressively seek grants from local Fortune 500 companies, he said.
He is also concerned about gang activity and crime, and said domestic violence is ignored by local politicians.
And with the absence of a defense industry on Long Island, he said manufacturing jobs have gone to New Jersey, Canada and Mexico, and he wonders why the county can't retain these industries.
"Why are all these jobs leaving us? It has to be more than just tax incentives," LaRosa said. He wants to keep other businesses from leaving such a "hard-working, paycheck-to-paycheck community."
The election is a crucial one for both parties.
For the first time in decades, Democrats controlled both the executive and legislative branches of county government until the abrupt resignation of Williams on July 30, who pled guilty in federal court for falsely inflating homebuyers' incomes to help them get mortgages when he was vice president at Amerifirst Mortgage Corp., prior to becoming legislator.
Republicans, meanwhile, would like to regain the majority, and although the First District is a heavily minority and Democratic-leaning area, a Republican held the seat until Williams' election in 1999. The First District covers Uniondale, Roosevelt, and parts of Freeport, Hempstead and Baldwin.
Republican leaders have complained that the Sept. 10 election is a blatant attempt by the Democrats to ride the coattails of the Democratic primary for governor, and particularly H. Carl McCall, a well-known African-American Democrat.
"Suozzi was able to stack the cards in my opponent's favor because the [election] day is at his discretion," said LaRosa, who added that he is nonetheless optimistic about a win.
With a condensed, five-week campaign schedule, both Abrahams and LaRosa will have to scramble to introduce themselves to district voters.
Of their abrupt nominations, both contenders said they were honored to be chosen, and instantly accepted their party's nods. They are open to a debate if time allows but said they will be tenaciously campaigning on a grassroots level.
"I hope it presents itself," Abrahams said of a debate. "People deserve an opportunity to hear the issues and ask questions."
LaRosa said, "A debate would bring out the issues, but I don't know if it will happen in such a short time span."
