WESTERN NASSAU DEMOCRATIC CLUB
Carl Gerrato, President Dr. James Lynch, Vice President
WE ARE DEMOCRATS AND WE VOTE!
WELCOME
Serving The Communities of
- Bellerose Village & Terrace
- Elmont
- Floral Park
- Franklin Square
- South Floral Park
- South New Hyde Park
- Stewart Manor
- West Hempstead
meet our CANDIDATES
Joe Scianablo
Candidate for Hempstead Town Supervisor
Joseph K. Scianablo is a Marine combat veteran, retired NYPD officer, former prosecutor for the Queens DA, and lifelong public servant who has dedicated his life to protecting others and standing up for what is right. From the battlefields of Iraq to the streets of New York, and now in his fight to reform Town Hall, Joe’s leadership has always been rooted in service, accountability, and integrity.
A Life of Service
Joe enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1996 alongside his twin brother, continuing a proud family tradition of military service. Determined to build a better future, he used the G.I. Bill to become one of the first Scianablos to graduate from college.
His Marine Corps career took him across the globe, including humanitarian missions in East Timor and Eritrea. After the attacks of September 11th, Joe deployed to Iraq as a Sergeant, leading Marines through combat operations during one of the most difficult periods in modern warfare. Those experiences shaped his leadership philosophy: strength with compassion, discipline with integrity, and never leaving anyone behind.
Protecting Communities at Home
After returning from military service, Joe joined the NYPD, serving with honor and gaining firsthand experience with the real challenges facing working families. Wanting to expand his impact, he earned a law degree and became a prosecutor, where he advocated for victims, veterans, and vulnerable communities.
Throughout his career, Joe has stood on the side of those who needed protection most. He has built a reputation for doing the right thing—even when it was difficult.
From Watchdog to Reform Leader
In 2025, Joe challenged the status quo at Hempstead Town Hall and brought unprecedented scrutiny to a system many residents felt had stopped listening to them. That campaign exposed serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and insider politics.
Now, Joe is running again, not just to shine a light on problems, but to fix them.
His 2026 campaign is built under the banner of No Community Left Behind, a platform focused on restoring trust, conducting independent audits of town finances and infrastructure, and delivering measurable relief to taxpayers.
Joe believes local government should work for the people, not political insiders. His plan centers on:
- Independent, nonpartisan audits of finances, operations, and infrastructure
- Lowering unnecessary fees and addressing rising water costs
- Repairing roads, sidewalks, and critical systems residents rely on
- Bringing transparency back to Town Hall
Leadership That Puts Service Above Self
Joe Scianablo has led Marines in combat, protected New Yorkers as a police officer, and fought for justice in the courtroom. He understands pressure, responsibility, and accountability.
Now, he is ready to bring that same disciplined leadership to Hempstead Town Hall, because every neighborhood matters, every taxpayer deserves respect, and no community should ever be left behind.
meet our CANDIDATES
Joylette Williams
Candidate for Hempstead Town Clerk
Joylette Williams is a longtime Nassau County resident, educator, community advocate, and mother committed to equity, access, and public service. She is a Professor of English at Nassau Community College, where she also teaches in Women’s and Gender Studies and Human Rights Studies. Joylette is currently pursuing her EdD in Educational Leadership at the University of Connecticut and has presented nationally on education and equity.
She serves as Hempstead Village liaison to the Town of Hempstead Industrial Development Agency (IDA) and was recently re-elected to a second term on the Hempstead School Board. Joylette is also active in numerous civic organizations, including the NAACP–Hempstead Branch and the New Greater Hempstead Chamber of Commerce, where she works to support local businesses and expand opportunity.
Throughout her career, Joylette has been a consistent voice for Access, Transparency, and Independence—the principles at the core of her campaign for Town Clerk.
As Town Clerk, Joylette will bring independent leadership, integrity, and a people-first approach to government. She is committed to modernizing the office by improving access to public records, ensuring timely and responsive FOIL processing, and making it easier for residents to get the information and services they need. While the Clerk works alongside the Supervisor, Joylette believes the role must remain independent—answering directly to the people.
Her mission is simple: make government work better, be more transparent, and serve every resident with respect—because in the Town of Hempstead, there should be No Community Left Behind
meet our CANDIDATES
Laura Gillen
Congresswoman - NY04
Laura knows first-hand the challenges facing New York families. She is committed to keeping families safe, growing the economy, and making Nassau County a place where people can afford to buy a home, raise a family and open a business.
Laura grew up in Baldwin, where she developed a deep commitment to service by volunteering at South Nassau Communities Hospital and Camp Anchor, a camp for children and adults with special needs. Her dedication to helping others only deepened during her time at Georgetown University, where she was selected as a George Baker Scholar, a program that shaped her leadership and commitment to community service.
After college, Laura returned to New York and volunteered with GMHC during the height of the AIDS epidemic, providing care to people who were often ostracized and facing misinformation and fear. She later traveled to Kolkata, India, to work with St. Mother Teresa at her home for the dying, continuing her lifelong commitment to serving vulnerable communities.
Laura went on to attend Georgetown Law Center and NYU School of Law. After graduating, she began her legal career as a litigator with Cahill Gordon & Reindel, LLP. During her tenure at Cahill, she was active in the firm’s pro bono program, representing victims of domestic violence. Later, she joined the Westerman Ball firm in Nassau County.
Laura ran for Hempstead Town Supervisor because she saw a need for a problem-solving approach in local government, where partisan fights and corruption were damaging the community and placing additional burdens on taxpayers.
In 2017, Laura became the first Democrat to be elected Hempstead Town Supervisor in 112 years. As Supervisor, Laura managed a budget of nearly $500 million and led the operations of all town departments. She took aim at waste and corruption and made the Town government more accessible, transparent and accountable to taxpayers. Her cost saving measures enabled the Town to lower taxes for residents after years of tax hikes.
As Supervisor, Laura led efforts to revitalize the town’s infrastructure, sued to recover damages for contaminants in the public water supply and passed critical legislation relating to sexual harassment and veterans’ benefits.
In her first term in Congress, Laura has worked tirelessly to bring Nassau County’s priorities to Washington and find common-sense solutions to the problems Long Island families are facing. She has fought to bring federal resources back home, lower the cost of living, bolster Long Island’s economy and make our communities safer.
Since taking office, Laura has proudly secured over $50M in federal funding to Nassau County, including direct investments in public safety, clean water and resources for families and students.
Laura hears from working families across Nassau County about how skyrocketing costs have made it too expensive to live on Long Island. She has been a leader in Congress working to eliminate the SALT cap, which has led to double taxation of Long Islanders. She has stood up against historic Medicaid cuts and helped pass reforms to crack down on insurance middlemen who are unfairly raising the cost of prescriptions. She has fought to restore critical ACA premium tax credits to lower the cost of health insurance by up to thousands of dollars a month for working families.
Laura knows that Nassau County’s vibrant and diverse communities fuel our economy and make us who we are as Long Islanders. She has led the charge in Congress to extend TPS for law-abiding Haitians in Nassau County and across the country. As Haitian TPS holders face the possibility of being forced to return to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Haiti, Laura has stood shoulder to shoulder with our Haitian neighbors. She is also fighting to protect our democracy and stop the Administration’s attacks on voting rights by pushing back against attempts to suppress access to the ballot box.
Laura believes that elected leaders in Congress must stand their ground, work in a bipartisan manner and remain relentlessly focused on solving the challenges facing everyday Americans. She is continuing to fight for families and businesses on Long Island, and will work with anyone to deliver for New York’s 4th Congressional District.
In the Spotlight: Honoring Our Founding President
Honoring Founding President Nadia Holubnyczyj-Ortiz
The Western Nassau Democratic Club proudly recognizes Founding President Nadia Holubnyczyj-Ortiz for her extraordinary leadership, dedication, and vision in creating and building our organization. From the earliest days, Nadia’s drive, determination, and belief in the strength of community laid the groundwork for what would become one of Nassau County’s most active Democratic clubs.
As President of the Western Nassau Democratic Club, I was honored to present Nadia with a plaque in recognition of her remarkable efforts and lasting impact. That moment, captured here, represents the gratitude and admiration shared by every member of our club for her role in shaping who we are today.
Nadia was the spark that ignited this movement. Her leadership transformed an idea into action and inspired countless others to get involved. She built a foundation rooted in unity, fairness, and progress — values that continue to guide every meeting, every initiative, and every election we take part in.
Her legacy lives on in our mission to empower voters, support Democratic candidates, and build stronger communities throughout Western Nassau. The organization she helped create stands as a testament to what vision, passion, and perseverance can accomplish when people come together for a shared purpose.
The Western Nassau Democratic Club extends its heartfelt appreciation to Founding President Nadia Holubnyczyj-Ortiz for her service, her leadership, and her enduring commitment to the ideals that continue to move our club forward.
