By Brian Zanzonico
So how much has she spent on her run for office? "Not a lot," said the Franklin Square resident and former New York City schoolteacher. "My friends have helped me, walking with me door to door and talking to people. I don't think a bumper sticker makes a difference. Win or lose, I just want to say what I think is important."
Hazleton, 70, said she has grown tired of the "rigid division between the two parties," and if elected, would have no problem crossing party lines. She was, after all, once a registered Republican. But make no mistake, she said, she has Democratic ideals.
"The Democratic party has a certain policy and ethics and can do a better job," she said. "Vinnie's a good man, but it's a different philosophy and attitude and party position. I'd hate to see a machine get entrenched again."
She will have her hands full on Election Day against an original member of the Nassau County Legislature who spent four years as a state assemblyman, representing the 22nd Assembly District, before being elected to the Legislature.
Hazleton was prompted to make a run for the Legislature while working as a voting inspector in Franklin Square during last year's presidential election. She noticed 12 men lined up against the wall, watching. They got there shortly after the polls opened and stayed most of the day. Every few hours the men would look at the books to see who voted. If a neighbor had yet to vote, they'd call and offer to give them a lift to the polls.
"I asked one of the men, the one who I noticed was the big talker of the group, who they were, and he said Republicans," Hazleton said. "I said to myself, where are the Democrats?"
The next day she called a friend in the Democratic party and told her what she saw. The woman and her husband suggested that Hazleton make a run in the 8th Legislative District. She did so, and won the party's nomination. Now she hopes to rally the Democrats, notorious no-shows at the polls on Election Day, to vote her into office.
Her issue: illegal housing
Illegal housing is one of the biggest issues facing the 8th District, which encompasses Bellerose, Bellerose Terrace, Floral Park, Garden City, Garden City South, Malverne, Stewart Manor, West Hempstead and portions of North Valley Stream and Elmont. Hazleton said she has a solution.
"Legalize them, with an agreement from neighbors," she said. "The way to handle the problem of parking is to provide on-site parking, something like those circular driveways. We have to have affordable housing to keep our young people here."
Comments about this story? FSeditor@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 240.
