Special election for Judy Jacobs’ seat set for Nov. 8
Judy Jacobs poses for a portrait at her office in the Theodore Roosevelt Legislative Building on July 15, 2013. Credit: James Escher / James Escher
Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano announced Friday that a special election to fill the seat of the late Nassau County Legis. Judith Jacobs will be held on Nov. 8.
Also, county Democrats said Friday they will run Nassau Community College trustee Arnold Drucker of Plainview for the office. Republicans have not announced a candidate.
Mangano set the date for the special election for the 16th Legislative District in an executive order. The Nassau County Charter stipulates that if a legislative vacancy occurs after May 1, a special election must be held to fill the seat on the day of the November general election.
Jacobs, a Woodbury Democrat, died last week.
The Nassau Democratic Party’s screening committee Thursday night voted unanimously to nominate Drucker after interviewing seven candidates, party chairman Jay Jacobs said. He said the committee will have a formal meeting next week to confirm the selection.
Drucker was a co-chairman of NCC’s presidential search committee. In May, the panel selected W. Hubert Keen, former president of Farmingdale State College, as its new president.
Drucker was appointed to the college board in 2013 by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo.
The special election would be Drucker’s first run for office, although Jacobs said he has worked for the party and Democratic candidates in the past.
“He articulated an understanding of the issues that face Nassau County and an ability as an attorney . . . to ask the hard questions and research the information necessary to ensure that government runs properly,” Jacobs said. “We need people who know how to delve into the issues and ask the right questions and not be bluffed into accepting answers by the [Mangano] administration that may not be accurate.”
Drucker could not be reached for comment Friday.
Nassau Republicans “intend to nominate the very best candidate possible and vigorously contest the special election,” Nassau GOP chairman Joseph Mondello said in a statement.
Republicans have a small window to nominate a candidate for the seat. The county Board of Elections begins mailing out military ballots on Sept. 24, officials said last week.
The winner of the special election will hold the seat until November 2017, when he or she will seek election for a full two-year term. The legislative district has 23,017 registered Democrats, 14,445 Republicans and 13,327 voters unaffiliated with either major party.
Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.
Updated now Newsday travel writer Scott Vogel took the ferry over to Block Island for a weekend of fun.
Updated now Newsday travel writer Scott Vogel took the ferry over to Block Island for a weekend of fun.
