By JUDY RATTNER
With 66 of 66 districts counted at press time, in unofficial results, Scannell had garnered 5,225 votes, compared with Republican challenger Christian Browne's count of 4,204.
Browne, a 31-year-old attorney from Rockville Centre, had waged an aggressive campaign against Scannell, who has held the 5th L.D. seat since 1999. Interviewed in the last weeks of the campaign, Scannell expressed confidence that voters would return him to office, describing himself as a "strong, independent voice for my district."
Browne, a former Manhattan district attorney and a onetime aide to former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, was endorsed by state Senate Deputy Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre). Skelos was one of many Republicans in Nassau who touted Browne as a young candidate who would reduce taxes and bring fresh ideas and leadership to a Legislature Browne has described as "dysfunctional." The campaign was marked by sharply worded mailings denouncing Scannell that were funded by the New York Republican State Committee.
The 5th District race was one of several that was closely watched, with the Democrats' slim 10-9 majority in the Legislature potentially hanging in the balance.
In the Town of Hempstead races, incumbent supervisor Kate Murray, who has held the position for five years, handily defeated Democratic challenger Kevin Gorman of Wantagh by an unofficial tally of 66,043 votes to 30,729.
And Democratic newcomer Steve Turman, 33, failed in his bid to unseat Mark Bonilla, a Republican who has held the job of town clerk for the past four years. At press time Tuesday night, Bonilla had collected 59,560 votes to Turman's 32,771.
In the race for town receiver of taxes, two-term Republican incumbent Donald X. Clavin was easily re-elected, as his Democratic challenger, Geoffrey Prime, an attorney from South Floral Park making his first bid for public office, received 32,067 votes to Clavin's 61,201, according to unofficial tallies.
In a speech to cheering supporters Tuesday night, Murray said, "The numbers are stellar, not only for myself but for all of the council members. Our residents have shown by voting today that, by and large, they are very satisfied with the services we provide and that we are freezing taxes for the second time out of the last three years."
Dana Williams, Anthony Bottan and Mary Malloy contributed to this story. Comments about it? RVCeditor@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 208.
