Republicans say Blakeman wins by 2,150 votes (Updated: Curran calls to congratulate)

                                                                             

Bruce Blakeman

      

Twenty-two years after voters ejected Republican Bruce Blakeman, then presiding officer of the four-year old Nassau legislature, voters have brought him back into the county again.

Republicans say the final count of absentee ballots has put Blakeman ahead of incumbent Democratic County Executive Laura Curran by 2,150 votes.

Curran called Blakeman and congratulated him on his victory after the votes were tabulated, a Republican spokesman said.

The results really are a shocker:

Democrats were confident that Curran was far ahead in the polls before Election night, despite Republican predictions that Blakeman was within striking distance.

But there was a red wave on Long Island this month, probably a result of voters angry with Democrat President Joe Biden's blunders in office since he took office in January.

Not only did Blakeman win,  but the absentee vote count also affirmed the victories of Republican Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin, Republican Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and Republican Jennifer DeSena in North Hempstead -- the first time a Republican has won the North Hempstead supervisor's office since Democrat Ben Zwirn defeated incumbent Republican John Kiernan in 1989.

"I am thankful to the voters for giving me the opportunity to serve as Nassau County Executive," Blakeman said in a statement. "I pledge to deliver on the commitments that I made during the campaign.  In specific, I will work to provide genuine tax relief, fix the broken assessment system and keep our communities safe.  I look forward to working with County Executive Curran for a smooth and productive transition."

Blakeman, currently a Hempstead Town councilman,  was the first presiding officer of the Nassau legislature when it began in 1996 after the former Board of Supervisors was ruled unconstitutional. Voters rejected Blakeman and the legislature's then Republican majority in the 1999 elections when Nassau nearly went bankrupt under the late Republican County Executive Tom Gulotta. 


 

 

 

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