I'm honored that the voters of Nassau County voted by a decisive margin to re-elect me as their comptroller on Tuesday. We've come a long way in the last four years, and together I hope we'll accomplish more great things for Nassau County during my next term.

The residents of Nassau deserve an open and honest government, with agencies that are efficient, effective and accountable. They deserve a government in which taxes support needed services but are not so burdensome that they threaten homeowners' financial security. You have my solemn pledge that I will never stop working to bring Nassau County closer to that goal.

During the campaign, I heard one message loud and clear everywhere I went: property taxes in Nassau County are out of control. County government has held the line on taxes for the past three years, but we recognize that's not enough, because total property taxes keep rising. Since our biggest property tax bill -- 60-65 percent of the total -- is from school districts, I have joined Tom Suozzi in pledging that our number one priority during the next four years will be to work with school districts to find ways to reduce taxes.

I look forward to your input and advice about school taxes, and the other critical issues facing our county. Please don't hesitate to contact me with your ideas.

Howard S. Weitzman

Nassau County Comptroller