Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Democrat Joe Scianablo has declared himself winner in the race for Town of Hempstead supervisor, defeating Republican incumbent John Ferretti after a campaign centered on affordability, government transparency and public safety.
“Let's be clear: We see what's going on in this country,” Scianablo said in his acceptance speech. “The voters decided that enough is enough. They're sick and tired of the nonsense that's going on in the Town of Hempstead. They're sick and tired of political favoritism, the lack of transparency, and we're going to bring a town government that's worthy of the people that it represents.”
Scianablo, of Garden City, is a Marine combat veteran, retired New York City police officer and former prosecutor. He campaigned on bringing greater accountability to town government and ensuring that residents have more opportunities to participate in decisions affecting their communities.
“No level of government succeeds alone,” Scianablo told the Herald on election night. “I'm willing to work with Independents, Republicans, Democrats, of course, state, county, federal level partners to bring much-needed resources back to the town of Hempstead.”
During his campaign, Scianablo pledged to conduct a comprehensive review of town spending, eliminate unnecessary expenses and redirect resources toward road repairs, parks, infrastructure and essential services.
“We need change,” Scianablo said. “We are craving change here that puts the people first.”
Public safety will also remain a priority. Scianablo said he plans to strengthen partnerships with local law enforcement and expand services for survivors of domestic violence and their children, particularly following the closure of The Safe Center LI.
He has also emphasized addressing overdevelopment by enforcing existing building codes and working with individual communities to preserve neighborhood character.
Scianablo said he wants to make town government more accessible through regular town halls, community office hours and evening town board meetings. “We shouldn't just be having a vote every few years,” he said. “We need to have a seat at the table.”
Another priority is addressing high water bills for residents served by private utilities. Scianablo pledged to work with state and federal officials to advance efforts to transition affected communities to public water.
He also hopes to pursue redevelopment of the 72-acre Nassau Coliseum property, creating opportunities for jobs, medical facilities and economic growth.
With a Republican-majority town board, Scianablo acknowledged that cooperation across party lines will be essential to advancing his agenda. “We're going to have to have open and honest conversations and dialogue, not only amongst ourselves, but in public view,” he said.
