LONG ISLAND (WCBS 880) — With poll results continuing to roll in from the New York's suburbs, Republicans have appeared to maintain their leads in nearly every open race on the ballot with some candidates declaring victory.
Democratic State Sen. Todd Kaminsky conceded Wednesday morning to Republican Anne Donnelly in the Nassau County District Attorney's race.
"Last night's result was not what we wanted — but I am so proud of the campaign we ran and the people who volunteered their time and energy to knock on over 100,000 doors across Nassau County," he said. "Long Islanders want safe communities and government free from corruption. In my role as a Senator I will continue to serve my constituents and remain committed to those critical priorities and others to move Nassau forward."
As of 8 a.m., the Associated Press had Donnelly leading with more than 60% of the vote to Kaminsky's 39%. Donnelly declared victory Tuesday night, Newsday reports.
Timothy Sini, Democratic Suffolk County District Attorney, conceded to Republican and conservative Ray Tierney.
Tierney has been a prosecutor for 26 years.
"My experience in both the state and federal system is unique. I've done a lot of things. I started from the bottom, I worked my way up to doing bigger cases so I think that experience I can bring to bear because I understand the job from top to bottom," said Tierney.
Sini, who had been in office since January 2018, was seeking a second term.
Democratic Nassau County Executive Laura Curran has not conceded against Republican Bruce Blakeman who declared victory.
Early Wednesday, Curran said in a statement that the race was "not over."
"There are many thousands of absentee ballots that still must be counted – with more coming in," she said. "This is not over and we must trust the process. Every Nassau resident who participated in this election is owed the opportunity to have their voice heard. I have faith in Nassau County and the good work we have accomplished over the last four years."
She added, "The residents of Nassau have taught a masterclass in resilience, and I have plenty in reserve. We may not know the winner of this election, but I do know one thing – tomorrow, we get right back to work delivering for the incredible residents of Nassau County."
The Associated Press had Blakeman in the lead with 52% as of 8 a.m.
Here’s a look at the live results of the races happening across Nassau and Suffolk counties:
CLICK HERE for full New York Election results.
NASSAU COUNTY EXECUTIVE
The Nassau County Executive is the chief administrator of county government who is responsible for law enforcement, infrastructure planning and repairs, consumer protection and parks and recreation management. They oversee all other services provided by the county and preparation of the county budget.
LAURA CURRAN (Democrat)
BACKGROUND:
Curran, the first woman ever to be sworn is as county executive on Long Island, is hoping to win a second term.
Prior to being elected Nassau County Executive, Curran served on the county Legislature from 2014 to 2017 and was a member of the Baldwin school board.
Before entering politics, Curran – who was born in Ontario, Canada – also worked as a reporter for the New York Daily News and the New York Post.
IN HER OWN WORDS:
On COVID-19: “I'm so proud of the fact that Nassau County has the highest vaccination rate in all of New York state, we're number two in the country among large counties.”
On crime: “We've also been ranked the safest community in America for two years in a row, we are not defunding the police in Nassau County.”
On re-assessment of houses in Nassau: “I ran on a pledge to finally fix our assessment system and I've done just that. Our values were validated. We did the first re-assessment in about 10 years.”
BRUCE BLAKEMAN (Republican)
BACKGROUND:
Blakeman is a former member of the Nassau County Legislature and a current member of the Hempstead Town Council. He also previously served as Hempstead’s deputy town supervisor under Laura Gillen.
In the last 1990s, Blakeman entered a bid for New York State Comptroller, but lost to incumbent Carl McCall, a Democrat. He also ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014.
Prior to a life in politics, Blakeman served as the commissioner for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
IN HIS OWN WORDS:
On crime: “Shootings are up in Nassau County by 39%, car break-ins are up, shoplifting is rampant… people no longer feel safe in their communities.”
On home reassessments: “You had 16,000 people this year who have manifest errors in their tax bills and evaluations are way off. We've got mansions on Long Island worth over $3million that are paying no taxes.”
On taxes: “I will cut $150 million in county taxes over the next two years.”
NASSAU COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
A district attorney has the power to prosecute people charged with crimes ranging from fraud to homicide. While they operate similarly to a lawyer, the district attorney only has one client – the government – and only has one job – to prosecute on behalf of the government.
TODD KAMINSKY (Democrat)
BACKGROUND:
Kaminsky is a former prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, where he helped take down corrupt elected officials including former State Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada, Jr.
Most recently, Kaminsky has searched in the New York State Senate himself, representing Long Island’s 9th District.
IN HIS OWN WORDS:
“As a federal prosecutor, I prosecuted some of the worst offenders – drug kingpins, gang leaders, gun traffickers – and I’ve succeeded every single time. As a federal prosecutor I won every single case and your safety as Nassau residents will always be my top priority and I will continue to do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”
ANNE DONNELLY (Republican, Conservative)
BACKGROUND:
Donnelly worked as a prosecutor in the Nassau County district attorney’s office for 32 years and recently left her position to run for DA.
During her career, she was responsible for prosecuting individuals involved in organized crime and also served as the acting chief of the Public Corruption Bureau and deputy chief of the Economic Crimes Bureau.
IN HER OWN WORDS:
“I have been a prosecutor for 32 years in Nassau County. I have nothing but the utmost integrity and sanctity for our court and our judicial system. It is important that people know what’s happening since the bail law was passed – yes, we live in a safe community, but shots are up 39% in Nassau County and it’s a large jump. We have to make sure that someone – the person who takes over the district attorney’s office – can continue to run it efficiently and keep our residents safe.”
NASSAU COUNTY COMPTROLLER
The Nassau County Comptroller is the county’s chief fiscal officer who ensures that taxpayer money is used effectively and efficiently to promote the common good. They conduct reviews on Nassau County contracts and audits of local agencies and public benefit corporations.
RYAN CRONIN (Democrat, Working Families)
BACKGROUND:
Cronin currently works with the law firm Blank Rome LLP in Manhattan and helped victims of Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff.
He received a law degree from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri and once ran for a seat in the New York State Senate.
IN HIS OWN WORDS:
“We must reduce the tax burden. Lowering the cost of living is essential to sustain Long Island as a great place to live and raise a family. COVID-19 has upended the lives of our families, friends and neighbors.
Some have lost loved ones, and we have all felt the economic impact. As Comptroller, I will ensure Nassau County government works efficiently, and eliminates corruption, fraud and abuse.”
ELAINE PHILLIPS (Republican, Conservative)
BACKGROUND:
Phillips is the former Mayor of the Village of Flower Hill and previously served in the New York State Senate, representing Nassau’s 7th district, from 2017 to 2019.
While serving in the Senate, she authored seven laws – including one to keep guns away from known domestic abusers – was appointed chair of the Banks Committee and served on the Ethics Committee.
Prior to a life in politics, Phillips attended Penn State University, where she obtained an MBA in finance.
IN HER OWN WORDS:
“Nassau County needs a strong fiscal watchdog and I believe I have the background and the experience to benefit the taxpayers in Nassau County… The roll of the comptroller is to make sure I’m the fiscal watchdog, that I’m making sure that the dollars that these people deserve get back to them.”
SUFFOLK COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Like the Nassau County District Attorney, the Suffolk County District Attorney has the power to prosecute people charged with crimes on the east end of Long Island, representing the government of Suffolk County.
TIMOTHY SINI (Democrat)
BACKGROUND:
Incumbent Sini has served as the county’s district attorney since January 2018, prosecuting a number of high-profile cases – including multiple MS-13 related murders.
Prior to being elected to the role, Sini spent 18 months as Suffolk County Police Commissioner and was previously an assistant U.S.
Attorney for the South District of New York.
He also worked in private legal practices shortly after gaining his law degree from Brooklyn Law School.
IN HIS OWN WORDS:
“We’ve been able to reduce index crime each and every year we’ve been in office, which is important. But, more important – I think – we’ve been able to bring significant cases on a number of different public safety fronts, including gang violence... we need to remain focused on gangs, such as MS-13, but the mission now is to make sure they don’t reconstitute themselves.”
RAYMOND TIERNEY (Republican, Conservative)
BACKGROUND:
Tierney has spent 14 years as an assistant Suffolk County district attorney and previously was an assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
He most recently served as an assistant district attorney for violent criminal enterprises at the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office.
Like Sini, he also worked in private legal practices after he gained his law degree from St. John’s University.
IN HIS OWN WORDS:
“One of the problems that we have is that our leaders gaslight us, our leaders say that everything’s great and then when we look to see what’s happening, well things aren’t so great… what we need to do is we need to address those problems, and when I become district attorney, you’re not going to have to trust what I say with regards to crimes because I’m going to have a crime strategy unit and you’re going to see what happens, you’re going to see the index crimes, they’re going to be mapped and you’re going to see what’s happening in our communities. And we’re going to aggressively prosecute these things.”