Nassau GOP Also Names Two Candidates for Assembly
By Hank Russell
The Nassau County Republican Committee announced a slate of three candidates running for election this year, with one running for Congress and two running for Assembly.
Hempstead Town’s receiver of taxes, Jeanine Driscoll, announced she is running for Congress against Laura Gillen (D-Garden City). Driscoll, a resident of Bellerose Village, spent 34 years as a practicing attorney, handling civil litigation in both state and federal courts, and previously served as an associate village justice. She has also been active in her community, serving as president of the Floral Park Memorial PTSA and the Junior Women’s Club of Bellerose.
As receiver of taxes, Driscoll said, she has led efforts to make the tax payment process more accessible and convenient, introducing innovative services such as drive-through tax payment windows, satellite tax offices, online and credit card payment options, and email reminder systems. These improvements have modernized government services and made it easier for residents to meet their obligations efficiently.
In addition, she regularly conducts seminars to educate homeowners on how to reduce their property tax burden through exemptions and assessment challenges. She said her office has administered critical tax-saving exemptions for veterans, senior citizens, firefighters, permanently disabled residents, and those living on limited incomes.
“As Receiver of Taxes for the Town of Hempstead, I have spent my career helping families keep more of their hard-earned money,” said Driscoll. “In Congress, I will continue that fight — standing up for taxpayers, seniors, veterans, and working families who are being crushed by rising costs and out-of-touch policies.”
Driscoll accused Gillen of turning her back on her constituents by refusing to vote for enhancements to the SALT (State and Local Taxes) deductions and tax cuts for families, seniors, and small businesses in the One Big Beautiful Bill. Instead, Driscoll said, Gillen voted to raise taxes on her constituents by 22% by voting against extending the Trump administration’s tax cuts. The tax increase represents an average of $2,553 a year, the highest tax hike in American history.
“The choice in this election could not be clearer,” Driscoll said. “I am running to deliver real, meaningful tax relief and to make life more affordable for Long Islanders. My opponent’s record speaks for itself — higher taxes, fewer opportunities, and policies that hurt the very people we should be helping.”
David Hassid, a Great Neck resident and community advocate, is running for New York’s 16th Assembly District on the Republican line. He is seeking to fill the seat being vacated by Daniel Norber (R,C-Great Neck). Running on a platform of affordability, public safety, and preserving suburban values, Hassid said he is positioning his campaign as a direct response to the extreme policies coming out of Albany that he says are harming Long Island families.
Hassid has accused Governor Kathy Hochul of launching an “assault on the suburbs.” He has been a vocal critic of the state’s congestion pricing tax, calling it an unfair tax that disproportionately impacts suburban commuters. Hassid has also strongly opposed Hochul’s recent housing proposals that would override local zoning authority and allow high-density, high-rise urban development in suburban neighborhoods.
“Local communities should have the final say over their own zoning decisions,” Hassid said. “We cannot allow Albany to impose one-size-fits-all mandates that fundamentally change the character of our neighborhoods.”
On economic issues, Hassid said he has pledged to work with local leaders to lower taxes, reduce utility costs, and rein in excessive government spending, including repeated bailouts of New York City at the expense of suburban taxpayers and $1.5 billion in “free” childcare that would not be available to children of Long Island parents.
On the issue of public safety, Hassid said he supports law enforcement and opposes any efforts to defund or weaken police departments. He is calling for the repeal of cashless bail laws, which he argues have made communities less safe.
“Our residents deserve to feel secure in their homes and neighborhoods,” Hassid said. “We must restore common-sense policies that prioritize public safety and accountability.”
A strong advocate for religious freedom and civil rights, Hassid supports Nassau County initiatives aimed at protecting houses of worship and ensuring public safety during demonstrations. He has backed legislation designed to prevent aggressive protesters from blocking access to religious institutions, as well as measures to prohibit individuals from concealing their identities while engaging in violent protest.
Hassid also emphasized his commitment to fighting antisemitism and all forms of hate. “There is no place for hate in our communities,” he said. “I will always stand up for the rights, safety, and dignity of every resident.”
Also running for Assembly is small business owner Paolo Pironi. He is looking to fill the seat vacated by Jake Blumencranz (R-Hicksville). As the manager of Pironi Homes, he said he is pledging to bring a private sector approach to Albany and deliver real tax relief for Nassau families and seniors.
“I run a business — I can’t just spend more and expect someone else to pay for it,” Pironi said. “That’s exactly what’s happening in Albany. We need to get serious about cutting waste and start respecting taxpayers.”
Pironi is a graduate of the New York Institute of Technology, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Technology. He is actively involved with the National Association of Home Builders and previously served as the second vice president of the Long Island Builders Institute. He is also vice chairman of the Nassau County Open Space and Parks Advisory Committee and a member of the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Chamber of Commerce, the Oyster Bay Main Street Association, and the Knights of Columbus of Oyster Bay.
If elected, Pironi said, he will make public safety a top priority, shaped by his years as a volunteer firefighter and first responder with the Jericho Fire Department. “I’ve been on the scene when seconds matter and people are counting on you to do your job,” he said. “We should be backing our police and first responders, making sure they have the support and resources they need — not tying their hands with policies like ‘Cashless Bail’ that make our communities less safe.”
Like Hassid, Pironi pledged to preserve Long Island’s suburban quality of life. “Families across Long Island are doing everything right — working hard, budgeting, trying to build a future — and yet high taxes and rising costs coming out of Albany are making their lives unaffordable,” said Pironi. “We need to lower the tax burden, rein in spending, and start making it easier — not harder — to live and stay here.”
Long Island Life & Politics has reached out to the Nassau County Democratic Committee for a comment, but did not hear back as of press time.