(A statement from Democratic challenger Jason Watson has not yet been received.)
Legislator Richard J. Nicolello, a resident of New Hyde Park, is seeking another two-year term in the Nassau County Legislature, 9th District. He is running on the Republican, Conservative and Independence lines.
He issued the following statement announcing his candidacy.
“As a lifelong resident, I have a keen understanding that the economic stagnation and spiraling property taxes have created tremendous hardship for our residents. This is especially true for working families and seniors. I am proud to have kept my commitment by voting to repeal the onerous home energy tax and to eliminate a planned 16.5 percent property tax increase.
“In January 2010, the new Republican Majority was faced with a county saddled with massive budget deficits and out-of-control spending. We have begun the process of reforming the county budget without adding more burdens on Nassau County’s taxpayers.
“We have also started to remake a broken assessment system that had been neglected for years. Because of this neglect thousands of homes were incorrectly assessed and the county was paying out hundreds of millions of dollars in refunds. We have implemented a four-year freeze on assessment increases, have begun to streamline the bureaucracy and have been able to save $28 million from refund debt just in the first six months of this year.”
Nicolello is a lifelong resident of New Hyde Park. He and his wife Susan have two children, Kathleen and Patrick. Nicolello is a graduate of New Hyde Park schools, St. John’s University and Fordham Law School. He is active in many community organizations including NHP Kiwanis (Past President), Mineola Lions (Secretary), Greater New Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce, Knights of Columbus [Third Degree], Sons of Italy [Cellini Lodge], Irish-Americans in Government and the Elks [New Hyde Park Lodge 2107].
