Congresswoman Rice backs Curran for county exec

Calls Baldwin legislator an 'independent leader'

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Kathleen Rice, U.S. Representative for the Fourth District, announced on Monday her support for Democratic Legislator Laura Curran, of Baldwin, in the race for county executive.

"Laura Curran is the independent leader we need as the next county executive,” said Rice. “She has a real vision for our future, she has the courage to take on the rampant corruption in Nassau County, and she knows how to make tough decisions, work with both parties and bring people together to solve big problems.”

Rice’s endorsement came just a week after Assemblyman Charles Lavine, one of Curran’s Democratic primary opponents dropped out of the race and backed her. Now, Curran still faces Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos, a former Republican, in the primary.

Curran said that she was honored to be endorsed by Rice, whom she called “an independent trailblazer who always puts those she serves first.”

“[Rice] is a role model for me, a model public servant unafraid to make the tough decisions or reach across the aisle to get things done,” said Curran. “We’ve got a culture of corruption in Nassau County, and we’re in desperate need of a fresh start.

Congresswoman Rice's endorsement came a week after she was endorsed by EMILY's List, Congressman Tom Suozzi, and County Legislators Arnie Drucker and Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, and her nomination by the Nassau County Democratic Committee at their nominating convention, after already been backed by the Nassau County Democratic Executive Committee and its Chairman Jay Jacobs.

Assemblyman Charles Lavine, Curran’s former primary opponent, also endorsed her after dropping out of the race, and will be campaigning for her.

Only Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos, a former Republican, remains to face Curran in the Democratic Primary.

In a press statement after last week’s Democratic nominating convention, Maragos called Curran the “handpicked” choice of the Democratic establishment and claimed that he was the only candidate with true independence and of “unquestionable integrity.”

The state and county primary elections will be held on Sept. 12. The general election is Nov. 7.