Unexpected twist in City Council race

County Democratic chairman backs two new candidates in Long Beach primary

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The Nassau County Democratic Committee is backing two candidates in this year’s City Council race who are challenging the Long Beach Democratic Committee’s nominees for three open council seats.

A dispute between county committee Chairman Jay Jacobs and Long Beach committee Chairman Mike Zapson over local party leadership has led Jacobs to field two candidates of his own in the September primary.

Last month, the Long Beach Democrats selected incumbents Len Torres, the council president, and Anthony Eramo as well as candidate Karen Adamo to run against three Republican challengers in November. Council Vice President Fran Adelson is not seeking re-election.

At its convention in May, the county Democratic Committee also nominated Torres, Eramo and Adamo, though Jacobs said that additional candidates could petition to seek the nomination through a primary. Now the county committee has thrown its support behind Dave Yolinsky, a former career Long Beach firefighter who was laid off in February, and Anissa Moore, a professor at Nassau Community College, after they announced their candidacies.

“There’s a lot of local enthusiasm for these two candidates,” said Jacobs, adding that Moore and Yolinsky have already gathered nearly 2,500 signatures between them — well over the 500 each needs to get on the ballot.

Eramo, meanwhile, still has the support of the county Democrats, and is also listed on the petition with Moore and Yolinsky, which sparked the ire of local Democrats and fellow council members, according to political insiders. For his part, Eramo again expressed his support for his running mates this week.

“This is politics at its worst,” Eramo said of the feud between Zapson and Jacobs. “I have a record of being independent and standing up for the people of Long Beach. I’m proud to run on the record of accomplishments that I have with this council, and intend to continue the great work with Len and Karen moving forward. I will continue to fight on the issues that matter to the residents of my community.”

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