Mike Venditto Wins Special Nassau Legislature Race

A political novice with a well known name in Nassau County politics, has won a race that will decide control of the Nassau County Legislature.

Mike Venditto, the son of Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto, defeated Democratic Party candidate Joanne Maglione in the special election for the Nassau County 12th Legislative District seat that had been held by Peter Schmitt before his sudden death last month.

With 98 percent of precincts reporting, Venditto held 65 percent of the vote to Maglione's 35 percent.

Venditto, who has served as legal counsel for the town of Hempstead, ran against another Republican as Maglione, is a lifelong member of the GOP, who's served as a lawyer with the Nassau County's Attorney's office.

The newly elected legislator said that he has "extremely big shoes to fill" replacing Schmitt.

"I'm going to work hard to try and do as Peter Schmitt did and keep the taxpayers on Long Island first and foremost on my mind."

Venditto said his father's reaction was very congratulatory to him, and he described him as "a role model personally and professionally."

But the new lawmaker was also quick to point out that he will be his own man.

"The fact is, that he's the Oyster Bay Town Supervisor and I've been elected to the county legislature," Venditto said.

Going into the election, control of the legislature was deadlocked with nine Democrats and nine Republicans. Venditto's win will return control of the body to the GOP  that it held with Schmitt as presiding officer.