Laura Curran became the first woman to be elected Nassau County executive and the third Democrat ever to hold the post since the title was created in 1938.
With a nearly 8,000-vote edge in early returns, she claimed victory in the Nassau County executive race over Republican Jack Martins, who conceded the race Wednesday afternoon. Green Party candidate Cassandra Lems got one percent of the vote.
“Tonight, Nassau voted to end the culture of corruption and to give our county the fresh start it desperately deserves,” Curran told supporters. “I am humbled and grateful for the great responsibility you have entrusted to be your county executive.”
She will replace outgoing Republican Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, who did not seek a third term after pleading not guilty to federal corruption charges last year.
“Thank you to all those who supported us and went out and stood for a brighter future for Nassau — looking forward instead of looking back,” Martins said in a statement. “I have called to congratulate my opponent, Laura Curran, on her win. I encourage everyone to work together to put partisanship aside to restore trust in government and get Nassau back on the right track.”
In other countywide seats, Democrat Jack Schnirman beat Republican Steven Labriola by a margin of 50-48 percent to be the next county comptroller, replacing George Maragos. And Republican County Clerk Maureen O’Connell was re-elected when she fended off Democratic challenger Dean Bennett 54-to-45 percent.
In the county legislature, Democrats picked up one seat but the GOP maintained its majority when most incumbents were re-elected and two vacant seats didn’t change hands.
Democrat Josh Lafazan unseated Legis. Donald MacKenzie (R-Oyster Bay) by a margin of 55-to-44 percent.
In the race to fill the seat Curran vacated, Democrat Debra Mule beat Republican Kathleen Spatz 67-to-32 percent.
In the race to replace retiring Presiding Officer Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow), Republican Thomas McKevitt beat Democrat Eileen Napolitano 53-to-46 percent.
And in the campaign to fill the seat held by former Legis. Dennis Dunne (R-Levittown), who is now a Hempstead councilman, Republican John Ferretti beat Democrat Michael Sheridan 60-39 percent.
As for the three questions on ballots statewide, voters rejected the proposal to hold a constitutional convention, approved a referendum allowing judges to strip pensions from lawmakers convicted of felonies and the proposed Adirondack land bank appears to have passed with a slim margin, although results are still trickling in.
