Dem. Legislator Seth Koslow Challenges Blakeman For County Executive

MERRICK, NY — Nassau Legislator Seth Koslow (D-Merrick) has announced a run for county executive and an expected matchup against incumbent Bruce Blakeman.

Koslow took office last January after winning the election in Nov. 2023. However, Koslow said that limited political experience could work in his favor.

"I think it gives me a better perspective because I'm not a career politician," Koslow told Patch. "I live day to day like everyone else. I'm at the baseball field. I'm at the dance recitals."

A former prosecutor and defense attorney, Koslow wants to be in the best position to help the most Nassau residents.

"We have leadership in the administration that doesn't care about Nassau County," Koslow said. "Under Bruce Blakeman, costs keep climbing even though families are struggling."

The only laws, Koslow contends, enacted in 2024 were "a mask ban [and] and a trans ban."

While Blakeman hasn't officially declared his reelection bid, spokesperson Christopher Boyle said, "Bruce Blakeman didn’t raise taxes even after inflation went through the roof, refused to make Nassau a sanctuary county, put more cops on our streets, fought against radical pro-criminal policies and made Nassau the safest county in America. There’s no better choice for county executive than Bruce Blakeman."

Blakeman's Democratic challenger plans to campaign for transparency in government, introducing accountability measures to ensure that every dollar is spent with residents’ best interests in mind, according to a release from his campaign.

But according to Newsday, Blakeman has a campaign war chest over $1 million.

"They're going to have more money than us because the Republican party always has more money than the Democratic party, " Koslow said. "But I'm going to work for this because I believe in this."

Voters will decide on the county executive this November.

"I would set my sights on making this a place where people can grow, develop, thrive and have a future, much like my family gave to me and I want to give to my children," Koslow said.