Scannell defeats Browne in 5th L.D.

With 94 percent of the vote counted as of early Wednesday morning, six-term incumbent Democrat Joe Scannell won a close contest in Nassau County’s 5th Legislative District, which encompasses Rockville Centre, South Hempstead, Baldwin and Freeport. In unofficial results, with 62 of 68 precincts reporting, Scannell had garnered 5,611 votes — 53 percent — compared with Republican challenger Chris Browne’s count of 4,916 — 47 percent.

This third matchup between the two attorneys featured aggressive campaign tactics, with Democrats alleging that Browne, in his position on the Town of Hempstead’s Board of Zoning Appeals, voted to approve construction of a strip club in Wantagh, an allegation that Browne and fellow Republicans vehemently denied.

The 5th District race was one of several that was closely watched, with the Republican’s 11-8 majority in the Legislature hanging in the balance.

“I’m grateful that the voters have given me another two years to serve,” said Scannell. “I think people were really frustrated with the fact that there was no openness . . . I’m just proud of my record, I think people saw that.

“We need checks and balances; one-party rule is not good,” Scannell added. “The Legislature is supposed to be the checks and balances, and it hasn’t been the last two years.”

Mike Florio, Scannell’s campaign manager said, “I don’t think the Democrats here put together this kind of effort since the 1960s. This year was a steppingstone towards unity for the party. We used to be all over the place, but as you can see tonight in Baldwin, we’re all pulling in the same direction now.”

Incumbent 6th District County Legislator Francis Becker, a Republican from Lynbrook, handily won his race against Democratic challenger Anthony Gonzalez, a political newcomer from Valley Stream, by a margin of nearly 70 to 30 percent. The district encompasses a small part of Rockville Centre, south of Merrick Road.

Town of Hempstead races offered no surprises. Incumbent Supervisor Kate Murray, the town’s first female supervisor, who first took office in 2003, handily defeated Democratic challenger Gary Port, of West Hempstead, by a 2-to-1 margin. And Democratic challenger Steve Anchin of Hewlett failed in his bid to unseat four-term incumbent Town Clerk Mark Bonilla. As of press time Tuesday night, Bonilla had collected 50,558 votes to Anchin’s 28,712.

In the race for town receiver of taxes, Republican incumbent Donald X. Clavin was easily re-elected. His Democratic challenger, Wilton Robinson Jr., a security consultant from Roosevelt making his first bid for public office, received 34,000 votes to Clavin’s 68,000, according to unofficial tallies.

Deirdre Krasula and Chris Connolly contributed to this story.