MINEOLA, N.Y. (WCBS 880) — With less than a month left in her term, Laura Curran is reflecting on the past four years in office as Nassau County executive.
"I really did love every minute of this job — even the difficult days, the dark days," Curran told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall in an interview Tuesday. "It's incredibly rewarding work. We've got wonderful residents, wonderful businesses, excellent schools. I'm so proud of the fact that we've been named the safest community in America now for two years in a row, we're working on three. The fact that we had the highest vaccination rate in all of New York State. We've got a wonderful team."
As she is about to hand over the job to County Executive-elect Bruce Blakeman, Curran admits she never made a big deal about being the first female to hold the position, but she wants to talk about it now.
"Nassau County politics has for decades, has forever been an old boys club and I think the fact that I am the first female in this position sends a very strong message to women," Curran said. "I've been approached by college students, high school students, little girls, but also older women. The feedback that I got from them and the inspiration that I have given to them will always stay in my heart and my goal is, though I didn't make a big deal about being the first woman, I really hope that I have now paved the way for younger women coming behind me to pursue whatever it is they want to do."
Curran, a Democrat, conceded the county executive race to the incoming Republican two weeks after the Nov. 2 election after the Nassau Board of Elections completed its count of absentee ballots.
So, has it been difficult knowing there will not be a second term in office?
"I was ready to really take off and rock and roll for the next four years, however, it didn't happen, I came about 2,000 votes short, less than 1%, by the way, I do have to get that in there. So it's not going to happen, I have to respect that, recognize that I have left this place much better than I found it and I am ready for what comes next," Curran said.
As for the future, Curran, who used to be a newspaper reporter, said she may look into getting a job in the media.
"I certainly plan to stay active," she said. "I am very much intrigued by reentering the world of media."
Curran's last day in office is Dec. 31.
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