Gaylor wins big over Scheiner

It’s official: Republican Bill Gaylor has won a fifth consecutive term as county legislator.

“We did it again,” Gaylor said to the county Republican Committee Tuesday night. “They said it was a target to take me out. Well, we showed them what we can do.”

The Republican incumbent won the seat over Democrat challenger Jake Scheiner, a first-time office runner. Gaylor will serve the newly-drawn District 14 of the county legislature, which includes Lynbrook, East Rockaway, Malverne, Lakeview, West Hempstead and a small portion of Valley Stream.

Gaylor received 60 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results posted on the Nassau County Board of Elections website. 

“I am grateful the residents of the new District 14 have put their trust in me to represent them,” Gaylor told the Herald. “I look forward to working closely with the community in the new term.”

There were few Election night surprises throughout the county. In the Town of Hempstead, Republicans maintained a 5-1 majority of the town board. Supervisor Don Clavin easily won reelection by defeating challenger Olena Nicks with 65 percent of the vote.

Councilwoman Laura Ryder, who was appointed to the Fourth Council District seat in March after serving as a Village of Lynbrook trustee, won her first election to the town council. Ryder defeated Democrat challenger Darien Ward with 62 percent of the vote.

Incumbent Clerk Kate Murray was reelected with 63 percent of the vote. And incumbent Receiver of Taxes Jeanine Driscoll beat Michael Reid with 63 percent of the vote.

County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who wasn’t up for reelection this year, praised fellow Republicans at the county level, saying that under the leadership of Nassau County GOP Chairman Joseph Cairo, Republicans had built a dynasty.

“One hundred years from now they’re going to be talking about the Cairo dynasty,” Blakeman told supporters Tuesday night. “It’s a night when we can put faith in the people behind me that they will protect our communities. They will keep our taxes down, and they will make sure that we do not become a sanctuary county.”

Clavin summed up the feeling throughout most of the county Tuesday night when he said, “Ladies and gentlemen, how good does it feel to be in the Republican Party of Nassau County tonight?”

Scheiner, a 28-year-old lawyer and former political campaign manager, fell short against Gaylor.

“We are very proud of the campaign we ran,” Scheiner told the Herald. “We brought to the forefront important issues that are affecting our community, whether it be the skyrocketing cost of living in Nassau County or price gauging by Liberty Water and other utility companies.

“I want to congratulate Legislator Gaylor on a good win, and I wish him the best of luck in his next term serving our community in our districts.”

Nassau County and New York State Democratic Chair Jay Jacobs told supporters at the Garden City Hotel Tuesday night that the results coming in were expected.

“I don’t think we’re going to gain or lose any seats in the legislature,” Jacobs said. “I’m very happy to congratulate the Democratic candidates who won tonight.”

With about 75 percent of votes counted, both statewide ballot amendments appeared to pass overwhelmingly. Voters supported Proposal 1 — which would remove the debt limit for small city school districts — by 65 percent. Voters supported Proposal 2 — which would permit cities and towns to exceed debt limits to build new sewage facilities — by 69 percent.

— Additional reporting by Ben Fiebert and Jordan Vallone