No endorsement in Nassau Legislative District 19
Find out the candidates Newsday's editorial board selected on your ballot: newsday.com/endorsements2025
The 19th District includes Massapequa and North Massapequa.
Despite serving four full terms in the Nassau County Legislature, Republican James D. Kennedy does not have much to show for it.
Kennedy, 53, of Massapequa, had pledged in his last campaign to tackle the fentanyl epidemic to get help to those who need it most. But almost $100 million in opioid company settlement funds sit waiting to be dispersed, and efforts to distribute testing strips were blocked by his caucus. Kennedy has not been the vocal advocate needed to get this funding utilized for good. He did not meet with the editorial board.
His opponent Democrat Lynn M. Russo, also of Massapequa, is a lawyer and PhD scientist who wants a complete budget audit if elected. Russo, 55, does not have specific ideas on how to solve key district issues like possibly municipalizing the area’s water, building housing and flood mitigation. Newsday Opinion makes no endorsement.
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.
