Democratic Primary Taking Shape For September

Several local Democrats, including former county legislator Dave Mejias and political newcomer Francesca Carlow of Plainview, are hoping to unseat Garden City's own long time Republican senator Kemp Hannon this November in the 6th senatorial district.

Mejias received the official nomination to challenge Hannon at the Nassau County Democratic Convention. Carlow, a businesswoman who co-owns Trio Hardware in Plainview, said she's looking to "upset the handpicked Democratic candidate" in a primary this September.

"Ask most New Yorkers what they think about Albany, and they will tell you: dysfunction. Out of control borrowing and spending. Gridlock. Corruption," says Mejias in his campaign kickoff video. "I know you're frustrated and angry with Albany. I am too."

Mejias adds, "Taxes are too high, our economy is struggling, and hardworking people can't find good paying jobs. Our school taxes are skyrocketing, while every year we send billions of dollars to Albany that we never get back."

As a former county legislator, Mejias said he fought his own party to defeat pay raises and sponsored and passed "comprehensive ethics reform legislation and laws that protect our children from sex offenders, underage drinking and deadly drugs like heroin."

Carlow says she's not a "career politician," or a "product of the Nassau County political machine," but is running to serve the interests of the people.

"My campaign is a grassroots movement to give Long Islanders the opportunity to take back their government. I am proud to be running as a political outsider and the only candidate for the people," she said. "I've been dubbed by local residents the peoples candidate. Isn't it time we stopped sending career politicians to Albany?"

Carlow and her husband have lived in the district for more than 25 years and have two children. She served as president of the Plainview/Old Bethpage Chamber of Commerce for seven years and continues to serve as an active board member. Carlow is currently second vice president of the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce and has been on its board of directors for five years.

"Nassau County is the second highest taxed county in the nation. Albany needs a real person who truly cares that property taxes are driving families and businesses to leave Nassau County," says Carlow. "It is unconscionable that the tax dollars of the hard working families throughout the 6th senatorial district are subsidizing services for New York City. Long Island money needs to stay on Long Island. One example is the state imposed MTA tax; it continues to hurt Long Island businesses and our local economy."  

Hannon, who lives in Garden City with his wife and twin daughters, has served the 6th senatorial district since 1989 and is also an attorney in private practice with the law firm of Farrell Fritz, PC.

The Boston College, Fordham Law School and Chaminade High School graduate is the ranking member of the Senate Standing Committee on Health and is secretary of the Senate Conference. 

During his 20+ year tenure, Hannon spearheaded the establishment of the Senate Medicaid Task Force, led the health committee of the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) and serves on NCSL's Health Policy forum, among other service. Before serving in the Senate, he was minority leader pro tempore in the Assembly.