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Friday, February 23, 2024
Vol. 73, No. 8
HEALTH, WELLNESS & BEAUTY GUIDE
CHAMINADE GRAD A TIK TOK STAR
GREAT NECK JUDGE FINES TRUMP $355M
PAGES 21-28
PAGE 3
PAGE 6
Suozzi-Mazi tally shows voter shifts
VA L E N T I N E S F O R V E T E R A N S
Portion of G.N. goes ruby red as Dem captures independents, cracks GOP areas BY C A M E RY N O A K ES The once-Democratic bastion of Great Neck has solidified itself as a Republican bastion according to preliminary election data from New York’s 3rd Congressional District special election that shows a deepening GOP majority despite Democrat Tom Suozzi winning the overall vote. Suozzi managed to handily defeat Republican County Legislator Mazi Pilip based on strong support from independents that helped him pick up election districts in traditional GOP strongholds in New Hyde Park and Manhasset. Suozzi stepped into Election Day with an edge in early voting, garnering 4,320 more votes than Pilip in Nassau County and 3,060 more in Queens in the fight to complete former Rep. George Santos’ term after being booted from his seat in December. With 100% of the precincts reporting, Suozzi won 91,338 of the votes to Pilip’s 78,229 – nearly 54% to 46% – in a race with unexpectedly high turnout despite snow early Tuesday. Nearly 85% of the vote came from the Nassau County portion of a district that stretches from Massapequa to the south, up across the North Shore and into eastern Queens. While Suozzi won by a 23% margin in Queens, the race was closer between
the two candidates in Nassau County. According to the New York City Board of Elections’ unofficial Election Night results, Suozzi won with 61.38%, or 15,205 total votes in Queens. Pilip received 38.33%, or 9,495 total votes. In Nassau County, Suozzi secured 52.46% of the votes, or 76,133 in total. Pilip garnered 47.37% of the votes, or 68,734 total votes, according to the Nassau County Board of Elections. Overall, Suozzi secured his congressional win Tuesday night with 53.7% of the total votes vs. Pilip’s 45.99%, according to the New York State Board of Elections. The breakdown of the congressional special election results by area was sourced by Newsday and is based on preliminary vote totals by precincts. Vote totals will be finalized once military and absentee ballots have been certified. While Great Neck has been known as a Democratic stronghold for decades, the special election showed that the northern part of Great Neck has turned ruby red on the heels of Jennifer DeSena’s strong showing there in the Town of North Hempstead supervisor race in November. Pilip won with more than 60% of the vote in Great Neck, where she lives and serves in the county Legislature. Continued on Page 38
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HERRICKS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Herricks fourth grade students created homemade valentines for veterans that will be shared throughout Nassau County.
Port native town’s 1st female DPW commish BY C A M E RY N O A K ES After a nearly five-year vacancy, the Town of North Hempstead has hired a new Department of Public Works commissioner who will be the town’s first woman to permanently fill the position. Port Washington native Kristin Seleski is a civil engineer and construction project manager who has been working in the field for more than 15 years. She has served as a project manager for Richter + Ratner and Sciame
Construction over the past 10 years. The Town of North Hempstead hired Seleski at its Feb, 7 meeting despite the board’s Democrats voting against the move on the grounds that they were excluded from the hiring process and not able to vet the candidates. As the commissioner for the Department of Public Works, Seleski will be responsible for the town’s capital projects. This includes ongoing annual work like sidewalk and lighting improvements as well as large-scale
projects like replacing the windows at Town Hall. Capital plans the town has outlined in its 2024 pamphlet include improvements for Manorhaven Beach Park and Stepping Stones Lighthouse as well as wetland restoration at Hempstead Harbor. While the position is focused on carrying out projects to serve constituent needs and fulfilling town plans, Seleski said her goal is to ensure these projects come to fruition. Continued on Page 39