Special Election in Hempstead: Chris Schneider and Kevan Abrahams Compete for Council Seat

A special election will take place on Nov. 5 to determine who will succeed Chris Carini in the 5th Councilmanic District in the Town of Hempstead, but until then, Chris Schneider, a Republican, has been sworn in as a town councilman.

“I am proud to welcome Chris Schneider as the newest member of the town board,” Supervisor Don Clavin said in a news release. “Although the Town of Hempstead suffered a great loss with the passing of Councilman Chris Carini, the town board and I truly believe that Chris Schneider is the perfect person to carry on Carini’s legacy.”

Kevan Abrahams, a Democrat who is a former Nassau County legislator, will oppose Schneider. The district includes parts of Freeport, Merrick, North Merrick, Bellmore, Wantagh, Seaford, Lido Beach, Point Lookout and North Bellmore.

The special election comes after Carini’s unexpected death on July 14, while visiting family in Florida. He was 49. Carini was serving his second term, following a re-election bid in November of 2023. Town council terms are four years.

Schneider is the vice president of the Wantagh-Seaford Homeowners Association and he has also worked hand-in-hand with police officers through the Nassau County Police Commissioner’s Community Council.

Schneider has worked for over 20 years for the state Senate. Most recently, Schneider has also worked in a senior leadership role for the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.

“Councilman Carini was a tireless and dedicated advocate for the communities he represented, and the 5th Councilman District was the beneficiary of the Carini’s work,” Schneider said in the release. “It is my goal to continue his legacy of effectiveness, hard work and caring.”

Abrahams, 49 of Freeport, is the County Legislature’s former minority leader. He retired from the Legislature last year, and he has since worked as the director of strategic planning at Northwell Health. He’s been involved in public service for nearly 25 years, and his tenure was marked by his commitment to the community, as well as his efforts to ensure government accountability, according to Nassau County democrats.

“Kevan’s leadership and integrity are unmatched,” the Nassau County Democratic Committee Chairman Jay Jacobs said in a separate news release. “He has been a tremendous advocate for his constituents and has fought tooth and nail against Republican corruption. He’s exactly who we need on the Town of Hempstead board right now.”

Abrahams expressed concerns over the Town of Hempstead’s tax levy, which increased by a little over $2 million, which prompted him to run for office. He also disagreed with fee hikes on essential services.

“These back-door tax increases affect everything from seasonal and daily passes at town pools to parking permits, and sports league fees,” he said in the Jacobs release. “It’s happening on the backs of the taxpayer — the people are carrying the burden for the town’s fiscal mismanagement. It needs to change.”