Nassau County Republicans increased their legislative majority by one vote to 11-8, slightly strengthening their control, but still falling two seats short of a supermajority needed to approve borrowing without Democratic support.
Of three open seats outgoing Democratic lawmakers are vacating at the end of the year, the GOP picked up one the North Shore, further padding the alliance with Republican Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, who was also re-elected Tuesday, according to unofficial results tallied by the Nassau Board of Elections.
Republican Donald MacKenzie beat Democrat Dave Gugerty in while Democrats Laura Curran and Ellen Birnbaum fended off GOP candidates Debra Pugliese and Jane Centrella, respectively.
The three seats were left open when Legis. Joe Scannell (D-Baldwin) retired, Legis. Wayne Wink (D-Roslyn) unseated the North Hempstead Town Clerk and Legis. Judi Bosworth (D-Great Neck) ran for and won the North Hempstead Town Supervisor seat that Jon Kaiman left last month when he was appointed chairman of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority.
The closest race of the night came when Legis. Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D-Glen Cove) beat Republican challenger John DiMascio 53 to 45 percent, with Green Party candidate Stephen Sloane winning one percent of the vote.
Republican lawmakers who easily thwarted challenges include Legis. Howard Kopel (R-Lawrence), Legis. Richard Nicolello (R-New Hyde Park), Legis. Dennis Dunne (R-Levittown), Legis. Rose Marie Walker (R-Hicksville) and Presiding Officer Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow).
GOP incumbents who ran unopposed include Legis. Francis X. Becker (R-Lynbrook), Legis. Vincent Muscarella (R-West Hempstead), Legis. Michael Venditto (R-Massapequa) cross-endorsed Legis. Denise Ford (D-Long Beach), who caucuses with the Republicans, and Laura Schaefer, who won the seat held by retiring Legis. Joe Belesi (R-Farmingdale).
Democratic legislators who won re-election include Legis. Robert Troiano (D-Westbury), Legis. Carrie Solages (D-Elmont), Legis. David Denenberg (D-Merrick), Legis. Judy Jacobs (D-Wesbury) and Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams (D-Freeport).
