HERALD ENDORSEMENT

Vote for Laura Curran in 5th Legislative District

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Incumbent Laura Curran is the clear choice for voters in Nassau County’s Fifth Legislative District.

Curran, a Democrat, supports economic development along the Sunrise Highway corridor and has solid ideas about how to improve communities in her district that will generate revenue. She advocates the formation of social, walkable downtowns, particularly in Baldwin, but also in Freeport, and especially near the Long Island Rail Road station. She says this kind of mixed-use development is key to attracting builders who will want to create affordable housing that will, in turn, draw residents and shoppers young and old.

Curran has been a force behind many traffic and redevelopment projects in Baldwin, including a new one, approved last week by the Legislature’s Rules Committee — and for which she was instrumental in securing funding — that will improve a pedestrian area on part of Grand Avenue. She is a familiar face in Freeport and Merrick, and supports many civic programs.

She also helped create a Land Bank that, if approved at the state level, would take over repair of many of the county’s abandoned, or “zombie,” houses.

Curran sees her role as that of advocate for the residents of her district, whether in dealing with county or Town of Hempstead government, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority or any other agency. “I want to be the go-to guy,” she says.

Her challenger, Republican Michael S. Vista, has some interesting ideas, but they are not as fully formed as Curran’s. He supports offering tax incentives to encourage businesses to relocate to or expand within Nassau County as a way to ultimately increase revenue. This isn’t a bad idea, and it’s one that has been raised before.

Curran’s experience in office and unstinting support for new ways to address problems make her the better choice for voters in the 5th District.