Maragos, Lavine tout new endorsements in Democratic Nassau county executive race

Two of the three Democrats vying for embattled Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano’s seat in the fall election announced additional endorsements this week.

County Comptroller George Maragos, a Republican until late last year when he both switched parties and announced his intention to run for county executive, announced Friday that he had been endorsed by New Cassel Bishop Lionel Harvey.

Harvey, Maragos said, is the spiritual and civic leader to the entire community of Westbury-New Cassel, as well as an ambitious visionary and propelling influence for social and economic justice within the Westbury-New Cassel community.

"This is about our lives, not political motivations," said Harvey. "Mr. Maragos values people over party, and that is what it takes to be a leader in Nassau … [he] is a rare public servant, willing to take big steps to help the hard-working middle class and open up business and job opportunities in government for all minorities. He will cut taxes, stop waste and end corruption."

Fellow candidate, Assemblyman Charles Lavine, of Glen Cove, also announced his endorsement by a number of state Democratic leaders and progressive activists, including former Congressman Lester Wolff, Assembly Deputy Speaker Earlene Hooper, Assemblyman Anthony D'Urso and former New York Assembly members Michelle Schimel and Harvey Weisenberg.

"I endorse Chuck Lavine for Nassau County Executive because Chuck is a progressive leader who believes that Nassau deserves better than the broken promises and corruption of the Mangano administration,” Wolff said. “Chuck has the experience to root out fraud and cronyism in Nassau County government, and the guts to stand up for Nassau families and speak out against the cruel Trump agenda."

Lavine has also been endorsed by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Majority Leader Joe Morelle.

County Legislator Laura Curran, of Baldwin, is also running for Mangano's seat, and has received the endorsement of the Nassau County Democrats, among others.

The state primary will be held on Sept. 12. The general election will be held on Nov. 7.