2023 Seaford election results: Carini, Giangregorio re-elected

Voters across Long Island went to the polls on Tuesday to cast their ballots for the Nassau County Legislature and the Hempstead Town Board.

In the race in the Legislature’s 12th District, Republican Michael Giangregorio declared victory over his Democratic opponent Matthew Pasternak, and will represent Wantagh and Seaford.

Giangregorio, who won his seat in a special election early this year, captured roughly 70 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results provided by the Nassau County Board of Elections.

“Thank you everyone here,” Giangregorio said on Tuesday night. “You brought it out for me nine months ago — we did it again. I can’t wait to work with these people and make Nassau County a better place.”

In addition to affordability and quality-of-life initiatives, Giangregorio wants to pursue grants for county projects, such as combating the opioid crisis. He also wants state and federal grants for infrastructure so the county can have affordable housing and expand.

Giangregorio said he believes in listening and working to improve the community, and added that he was just getting started with his legislative career.

This was a difficult year for the Democrats, particularly in the Town of Hempstead, where Republican incumbents won landslide victories. Town Supervisor Don Clavin won re-elected with 65 percent of the vote, and his fellow incumbents, Town Clerk Kate Murray and Receiver of Taxes Jeanine Driscoll, also won by overwhelming majorities, both garnering 63 percent of the vote.

Republican incumbent Christopher Carini declared victory in Hempstead’s 5th Councilmanic District, which encompasses Seaford and Freeport.

Carini was first elected to the Town Board in 2019. Republicans originally nominated Erin King Sweeney, but she dropped out late in the race, and Carini jumped on the ballot just six weeks before the election. Based on the unofficial results, Carini won re-election with 61 percent of the vote.

He said he had kept his promises, keeping taxes low and making improvements throughout the district.

“Thank you to everyone in this room,” Carini said on Tuesday night. “Tomorrow we start our work, and continue our fight for safe and affordable neighborhoods.”

His opponent, Jasmine Peña, a first-generation American and a small business owner, received only 39 percent of the vote.

Additional reporting by Jordan Vallone