North Hempstead Republican Supervisor Jennifer DeSena was re-elected to a second two-year term Tuesday night after defeating Democrat challenger Jon Kaiman, who held the role from 2004 to 2013.
The seven-member North Hempstead Town Board also flipped from a Democratic to a Republican majority, according to unofficial results from the Nassau County Board of Election.
Democrats held onto seats in Districts 4 and 6 but apparently lost the District 2 seat held by Democrat incumbent Peter Zuckerman, who trailed Republican Edward Scott by less than 200 votes with absentee ballots still to be counted.
If the vote holds, Republicans would have a 4-3 advantage and a majority in North Hempstead for the first time this century.
Republican Mary Jo Collins also defeated current Democrat Council Member Veronica Lurvey, flipping a seat that was previously held by Democrat Charlie Berman.
DeSena had 26,405 votes out of 47,978 total cast, or 55%, according to the board of elections. The Manhasset resident in a victory speech thanked her supporters including County GOP Chair Joe Cairo, local law enforcement and the local CSEA unit, among others.
“This is a victory for everyone in this room, this is not something I could have done myself,” DeSena said from the Coral House in Baldwin. “Thank you to my team inside the office and my running mates. We won because we give tax relief and we are governing better, it’s a massive victory.”
Scott is leading Zuckerman by 128 votes in District 2 with 100% of the precincts counted, according to the board of elections, but not all absentee ballots were counted as of Tuesday night, Cairo said.
Scott did not declare victory Tuesday night but told the crowd he was feeling “confident.”
If Scott wins the District 2 seat, Republicans would hold a majority in North Hempstead, Hempstead and Oyster Bay.
In District 4, Democrat Christine Liu defeated Republican candidate James Gounaris with 58% of 8,248 total votes cast. The district is currently held by Lurvey and remains a Democratic seat.
Democrat Incumbent Mariann Dalimonte of District 6 defeated Republican challenger Dave Franklin with 68% of 8,888 total votes cast.
Dalimonte expressed appreciation for the voters for re-electing her and seeing the efforts that she has expended.
“I am so incredibly proud because the residents, the constituents in District 6, see how hard I work for them,” Dalimonte said. “And it truly means the world to me that they came out to support me in droves.”
Dalimonte said that she feels “blessed” to have instilled the trust in her constituents to be re-elected.
Going forward, Dalimonte said she is looking to continue working for her constituents and advocating for them.
“I am so excited for the next four years to advocate and to work for District 6 again,” Dalimonte said. “And I truly, from the bottom of my heart, truly thank all the constituents that came out to cast their vote for me.”
Collins had 25,719 votes out of 47,360 total in her race against Lurvey, securing 54% of the total vote.
Collins when speaking to the crowd thanked Cairo, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, County Comptroller Elaine Philips–a fellow Flower Hill resident–and the rest of the Republican team.
“I look forward to serving you all in the Town of North Hempstead, thank you for your support,” Collins said.
