Scott M. Davis for Nassau Legislative District 1
Nassau County Legis. Scott M. Davis (D-Rockville Centre) is running for reelection. Credit: James Escher
Find out the candidates Newsday's editorial board has selected on your ballot: newsday.com/endorsements2026
The 1st District includes Rockville Centre, Roosevelt and parts of Hempstead.
Democratic incumbent Scott M. Davis, 64, from Rockville Centre, has become a prominent voice in the county legislature since he was first elected in 2023.
An attorney who has served on the county Civil Service Commission and Assessment Review Commission, Davis brings a keen eye to reviewing budgets and staffing. He has raised the alarm on understaffing in the county Department of Social Services, especially for child protection work, and in the Department of Public Works. Davis tries to bring transparency to the often opaque workings of the legislature. He is suing the county over a program to use residents as special armed "deputy sheriffs" in emergency situations without providing lawmakers and the public information about how it works. "When I see something that’s wrong or an issue that needs to be addressed, that’s when I do what I do," he said.
Davis has gotten $1.75 million to upgrade Hempstead Village’s water filtration system and is working to improve the village’s fire station.
Republican Edward J. Lino, 36, of Rockville Centre, is a Town of Hempstead deputy attorney who is running his first race for elective office in this overwhelmingly Democratic district. He did not meet with the editorial board.
Newsday Opinion endorses Davis.
ENDORSEMENTS ARE DETERMINED solely by the Newsday editorial board, a team of opinion journalists focused on issues of public policy and governance. Newsday’s news division has no role in this process.
