Nassau County Legislator Carrié Solages (D-Lawrence) announced his candidacy in the 4th Congressional District race on Tuesday, joining fellow Legislator Selia Bynoe (D-Westbury) and former Town of Hempstead Supervisor Laura Gillen.
Solages, who was first elected to the legislature in 2011, said aiding small businesses and public safety are some of the prominent issues that need to be addressed in his announcement.
“I am proud to announce that I am running for Congress to represent our values and to address issues like public safety, property taxes and help for small businesses,” he said. “Our county desperately needs strong political leaders who can produce results, like me.”
The 4th Congressional District comprises central and southern Nassau County, including Floral Park, Garden City, Hempstead, Mineola, Carle Place, New Hyde Park and Westbury. Under newly drawn redistricting maps, it also takes in the villages of East Williston, Williston Park, Lake Success and some unincorporated parts of the Town of North Hempstead.
All three Democrats are running for the seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-Garden City), who will not run for re-election this year.
Rice, who was first elected to Congress in 2014 and is in the midst of her fourth term, said in a tweet that elected officials “must give all we have and then know when it is time to allow others to serve.”
“Though I will not be running for re-election to Congress this year, I will remain focused on protecting our democracy and serving my constituents throughout the rest of my term,” Rice continued.
With Rice deciding not to run for re-election, she becomes the 30th Democratic member of Congress to bow out of the fall elections, including U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), who represents the 3rd Congressional District on the North Shore and is running for governor.
Solages, who represents Nassau’s third legislative district, announced his candidacy less than a week after Gillen said she would be running and two weeks after Bynoe launched her campaign. Solages and Bynoe have been previous advocates for public safety, previously imploring state Attorney General Letitia James to establish an independent office to monitor misconduct in the Nassau County Police Department.
James’ office subsequently denied their request, citing the lack of necessary funding to establish a remote oversight office.
The two legislators, along with Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams (D-Freeport) criticized the county’s police reinvention plan. The plan was in accordance with an executive order from former Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed that required each police agency to devise a plan to “reinvent and modernize police strategies.”
