John J. Giuffré for Nassau Legislative District 8
Republican Legis. John J. Giuffrè is running for reelection in the Nassau County Legislature's 8th District. Credit: James Escher
Find out the candidates Newsday's editorial board selected on your ballot: newsday.com/endorsements2025
The 8th District includes Garden City, Garden City South, Franklin Square, Stewart Manor and parts of New Hyde Park and Floral Park.
Republican incumbent John J. Giuffré is an attorney seeking a third term. He is being challenged by Democrat James Lynch, a psychiatrist.
Lynch said he's known Giuffré for 21 years and calls him a good man, but he disagrees with his support for the Las Vegas Sands casino proposal and armed "provisional special deputies" sought by County Executive Bruce A. Blakeman.
Lynch, 60, of Stewart Manor, proposes building a new facility for Nassau University Medical Center at the Nassau Hub and building a tunnel under Hempstead Turnpike near Hofstra University for pedestrian safety. He also wants Nassau to build more affordable housing near mass transit, like Station Yards at the Ronkonkoma Long Island Rail Road station in Suffolk County. He pledges not to be a rubber stamp for Blakeman.
Lynch has big ideas that may be too expensive or plausible to enact. While Giuffré, 61, of Stewart Manor, typically votes along with his caucus, he is responsive to his district and can offer more leadership on the legislature if it was allowed to govern. Giuffré did not meet with the editorial board.
Newsday Opinion endorses Giuffré.
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.
