In a last minute switch in the 9th legislative district race, Town of North Hempstead Democrats have chosen former East Williston Mayor Dolores Sedacca to run against longtime Republican incumbent Richard Nicolello.
Gerard Terry, North Hempstead Democratic leader, said Monday Sedacca had been chosen after the Democrats’ first choice, Cheryl Lee, dropped out of the race last week. The Democrats faced a deadline last Friday to fill the spot vacated by Lee, Terry said.
“My schedule is quite full now and I couldn’t accept the responsibility,” said Lee, who is president of the Mineola Democratic Club.
The selection of Sedacca sets up a re-run of the 2009 race between Nicolello, a longtime New Hyde Park resident, and Sedacca, which Nicolello won handily.
Sedacca was traveling out of the country this week and unavailable for comment on the race.
Sources among the Democrats said Lee had been a “placeholder” in the contest.
“It’s always been difficult to get a top-flight candidate there because most people look at the odds and say, it’s just not worth it. This new district now is as Republican as can be, so that kind of dampens any enthusiasm,” a source said.
Democratic county executive candidate Thomas Suozzi described Sedacca as “very smart” and “very hard working.” He said she faces a difficult challenge against Nicolello because of the recent redistricting.
“Richard Nicolello is entrenched there. It is a very difficult race to win, but if anyone can win, she can,” Suozzi said.
Nicolello, who was appointed deputy presiding officer of the county Legislature this year, has represented the 9th county legislative district since the county Legislature’s inception in 1996. He is chair of the Legislature’s Finance Committee, vice chair of the Economic & Community Development & Labor Committee, and a member of the committees for Budget Review, Planning, Development & the Environment and Towns, Villages & Cities.
Nicolello was out of town this week and attempts to reach him for comment about the race were unavailing.
The newly configured 9th district still includes part of the Village of New Hyde Park, part of Floral Park, part of Garden City Park, all of Mineola, Williston Park and East Williston. It now also includes most of Albertson, part of Searingtown some of Roslyn Estates and most of Manhasset, including part of Flower Hill, according to Frank Moroney, director of communications for the Republicans in the county Legislature who was chairman of the temporary county redistricting commission.
The district formerly included all of the Village of New Hyde Park, and all of Carle Place and Westbury.
Nassau County Legislator Wayne Wink (D-Roslyn), whose district included part of Garden City Park as well as Albertson and Roslyn Estates, said the outcome of the race isn’t certain.
“I’d like to think I’ve proven Democrats can have success there, but it’s still an uphill battle,” said Wink, who is running for town clerk after his district was effectively eliminated in the redistricting process.
