Serving New Hyde Park, Floral Park, Garden City Park, North Hills, Manhasset Hills and North New Hyde Park
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Friday, May 5, 2023
Vol. 72, No. 18
N E W H Y D E PA R K
GUIDE TO MOTHER’S DAY
EX-MINEOLA MAYOR SEEKS KAPLAN TO RUN FOR SANTOS’ SEAT TO REPLACE NICOLELLO
PAGES 25-28
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Nicks to run against Clavin for supervisor Hempstead Republican incumbents all running for re-election in Nov. BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y Hempstead Democrats have submitted their candidates to unseat the Republican majority in town government, according to the Nassau County Board of Elections. Incumbent Supervisor Donald Clavin, a Republican, will face challenger Olena Nicks, who is running on the Democratic and Working Families Party line. Nicks, of Uniondale, previously ran for town clerk against incumbent Kate Murray. She said in her campaign announcement earlier this year that she sees a lack of transparency from the town board as one of the biggest issues facing Hempstead. Clavin, before being elected supervisor in 2019, served as the receiver of taxes for nearly two decades. Murray, a Republican, is facing challenger Susan Cools, a Democrat, in the race for town clerk. Murray, who has held her current post since 2019, had a previous stint in the same role from 2002 to 2003. She also served as town supervisor from 2003 to 2016. Cools, a real estate agent, currently serves as president of the Board of Education in the Baldwin Union Free School District.
Receiver of Taxes Jeanine Driscoll, a Republican, will face Michael Reid, who is running on the Democratic Party line. Driscoll, of the Village of Bellerose, is a practicing attorney who most recently served as the associate village justice prior to her election in 2019. Reid, of Merrick, is a volunteer firefighter and retired hospital EMS supervisor, according to Ballotpedia. He previously ran twice for the state Assembly’s 14th District, losing to Republican incumbent David McDonough. Hempstead’s Councilmanic District 2, which includes portions of Floral Park, New Hyde Park and Mineola, is represented by Republican Thomas Muscarella, who is facing Democrat challenger Lawrence Nedelka. Larry Nedelka currently serves an executive assistant to the commissioner at the Nassau County Board of Elections. Muscarella first won his current seat after defeating former Floral Park Mayor Thomas Tweedy in 2019. The Garden City resident was appointed to the town board in April that same year. Professionally, Muscarella is a sales executive in the insurance industry. District 3 Council Member Melissa Continued on Page 45
PHOTO BY ROBERT PELAEZ
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman announces a deal between the county and Las Vegas Sands on Wednesday. See story on page 6.
Gounaris eyes continued improvements to Herricks BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y Herricks Board of Education President Jim Gounaris said if elected again, he would continue making the district better for residents and
being a representative for all their voices. “I have been a representative of all the people who live here,” Gounaris said in a statement to Blank Slate Media. “Their voice, their eyes,
and their ears. I have always been dedicated to serving all the residents and will continue to do so as a trustee always remembering that the finances we manage belong to Continued on Page 46
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