A 14-year volunteer firefighter and monetary analyst was sworn into the Nassau County legislature Monday — and vowed to give attention to extinguishing blazes, as a substitute of taking part in politics.
Olena Nicks, a Democrat, snagged a landslide victory in a Feb. 25 particular election to rep the 2nd Nassau County legislative district after Seila Bynoe was elected to the New York State Senate.
“I didn’t come to the Nassau County Legislature to play politics — I got here to place out fires,” the previous first responder advised The Publish.
“I’m excited and able to attain throughout the aisle, roll up my sleeves, and ensure each first responder will get the assets they should shield our communities. Security doesn’t choose sides, and neither will I,” Nicks stated.
The district now repped by Nicks contains Hicksville, Hempstead, New Cassel, Carle Place, Westbury, Uniondale and Jericho.
Her aunt, Tamika, introduced a bible from house that Nicks positioned her proper hand on as she was sworn in by minority chief Delia DeRiggi-Whitton.
“I’m extremely honored to be representing legislative district two,” the brand new legislator stated throughout a speech after the ceremony.
“I sit up for working with this legislative physique to proceed to be sure that the residents inside Nassau County are represented,” Nicks stated to her constituents within the crowd.
It’s nonetheless too early to inform how Nicks’ win will impression the county, however her election might not change a lot because the legislature stays a 12-7 Republican stronghold.
However Nicks advised The Publish that social gathering strains are irrelevant to her as she seems ahead to working with Republicans and Democrats alike.
In her first legislative session after being formally sworn in, Nicks advocated for equitable funding throughout districts for first responders, and voiced considerations on what she referred to as the county’s “wasteful spending” — saying Nassau must rein in a few of its “frivolous bills” like “expensive exterior legal professionals.”
Her long run objectives embrace preventing for small companies, addressing the inexpensive housing disaster and rising property taxes and pushing for investments in the direction of public security and youth applications for the county.
Republicans within the legislature congratulated Nicks on taking workplace and acknowledging the significance of working collectively within the chambers.
“We welcome Ms. Nicks to the County Legislature and hope that she is going to work throughout social gathering strains with us to construct on County Government Blakeman’s file of defending taxpayers and combatting crime,” Howard Kopel, the legislature’s presiding officer stated in a press release.
Nassau County Government Bruce Blakeman, a Republican, advised The Publish he seems ahead to working with Nicks “to proceed preserving Nassau County protected, wholesome, and inexpensive.”
Though Nicks simply formally joined the legislature, she is going to have already got to start out convincing her constituents to re-elect her when the seat is again up for grabs come November.
She defeated Republican candidate Karin Campbell with almost 75% of the vote in final month’s particular election.
Earlier than her landslide win this yr, Nicks unsuccessfully ran for Hempstead city clerk in 2021 after which city supervisor in 2023.
Supply hyperlink
