Who we're endorsing: For Nassau County Legislature

Again this year, we are releasing our endorsements to your inbox before they are published in print. This edition highlights our picks for districts 1 through 9 of the Nassau County Legislature.

For many years, from one election to the next, Nassau County's problems and opportunities seemed immovable and unchanging. Every Halloween deadline for the legislature to approve the county budget meant contending with endless deficits, growing debt and, often, delay.

But the immovable has shifted and the unchangeable has evolved. Nassau's budget was balanced in 2019 and 2020, even before federal COVID-19 stimulus money and opioid settlement funds began to flow to the county.

Nassau has new opportunities, and new challenges. Here's who we think can best help meet them. To find out the district in which you reside, click here.

The races: Nassau County Legislature

Nassau Legislature, District 1 (Uniondale, Roosevelt, parts of Freeport and East Meadow): Democrat Kevan M. Abrahams vs. Republican Elton E. McCabe Jr.

Nassau Legislature, District 2 (Lakeview, Hempstead, East Garden City, New Cassel and Hempstead): Democrat Siela A. Bynoe vs. Republican Harold H. Germain

Nassau Legislature, District 3 (Valley Stream, North and South Valley Stream, Elmont, South Floral Park and Inwood): Democrat Carrié Solages vs. Republican Bernadin Fleurima

Nassau Legislature, District 4 (Long Beach, Island Park, Woodsburgh, Lawrence, Barnum Island): Democrat Claudia P. Lovas vs. Republican Denise A. Ford

Nassau Legislature, District 5 (South Hempstead, Freeport, Baldwin, Baldwin Harbor, part of Merrick): Democrat Debra S. Mule vs. Republican Brian J. McEvoy

Nassau Legislature, District 6 (Hewlett, Lynbrook, North Lynbrook, part of South Hempstead, Malverne): Democrat Laura J. Burns vs. Republican C. William Gaylor

Nassau Legislature, District 7 (Cedarhurst, Woodmere, Hewlett Bay Park, East Rockaway, Rockville Centre, Oceanside): Democrat Lisa Daniels vs. Republican Howard J. Kopel

Nassau Legislature, District 8 (Bellerose, Floral Park, Stewart Manor, Franklin Square, West Hempstead): Democrat Nadia Holubnyczyj vs. Republican John J. Giuffre

Nassau Legislature, District 9 (Plandomes, Munsey Park, Roslyn Estates, New Hyde Park to Mineola, Albertson): Democrat Salju K. Thomas vs. Republican Richard J. Nicolello

Don't see your district? The rest of the Nassau County Legislature endorsements will be released Thursday. Our endorsements in the Suffolk County Legislature are here,

Our picks

Nassau Legislature, District 1

Abrahams vows to push for improvements in the county's police-reform plan. He also urges procedural reforms that would assure worthy measures from all members get debated and get a vote. McCabe Jr. vows to hear all sides of issues but comes up light on specifics.

Newsday endorses Abrahams and here's why.

Nassau Legislature, District 2

Bynoe has emerged as a crucial voice, whether advocating for a body camera program for police or pushing for first responders to improve the way they deal with mental health calls. She also is in tune with the region’s needs for housing and infrastructure. Germain expressed troubling COVID-19 vaccine views and has not formulated strong opinions on some big issues like Hub development.

Newsday endorses Bynoe and here's why.

Nassau Legislature, District 3

Newsday declines to make an endorsement in this race and here's why.

Nassau Legislature, District 4

Ford closely monitors road and drainage projects in her flood-prone, storm-battered, coastal district. Lovas says that after decades of "the same old same old" she can prod new efforts to render the district more storm-resilient.

Newsday endorses Ford and here's why.

Nassau Legislature, District 5

Mulé is cognizant of the need to help businesses get back on their feet in Baldwin, and has her eyes on important local projects. McEvoy is attuned to some district issues but doesn’t disagree with Mulé on much.

Newsday endorses Mulé and here's why.

Nassau Legislature, District 6

Burns is a passionate advocate for sensible gun laws, and she's not afraid to buck Democrats: She says County Executive Laura Curran is wrong not to fill dozens of open positions in the county assessment office. Gaylor represents his district well, but is too often on the wrong side of issues.

Newsday endorses Burns and here's why.

Nassau Legislature, District 7

Kopel rightly points to county finances as a legitimate concern, often providing a smart, nuanced perspective, and he recognizes his district's infrastructure and road improvement needs. Daniels says she'd be a steady and active presence in the district who would focus on constituent services, small-business needs, and a more holistic approach to development.

Newsday endorses Daniels and here's why.

Nassau Legislature, District 8

Holubnyczyj is a civic association leader and a passionate advocate for the rights of the disabled but is too quick to oppose key regional efforts, including the Belmont Park redevelopment. Giuffre said he would focus on the basics for his district, like roads and infrastructure, and has worthwhile ideas about the troubled Nassau University Medical Center.

Newsday endorses Giuffre and here's why.

Nassau Legislature, District 9

Nicolello's longevity does him credit, as does his well-mannered and well-intentioned leadership. He's no flamethrower, a huge plus during crises like COVID-19. Thomas is not actively campaigning.

Newsday endorses Nicolello and here's why.

Election reads and resources

— Enter your address here to see our choices to date for candidates running in your district.

—There are five proposed amendments to the state constitution on your November ballot. Learn more about them here.

— Dialing for DA dollars: Check out spending in the DA races this week, as featured in The Point.

Follow @NewsdayOpinion on Twitter and on Instagram to see more from the candidates. Stay tuned for our next special edition newsletter soon.

Endorsements are determined solely by the Newsday editorial board, a team of opinion journalists focused on issues of public policy and governance. Newsday’s news division has no role in this process.