A sweeping and pervasive voter backlash against the Republican party led to a shocking turnabout in local politics last Tuesday, Nov. 2, as Democrats seized control of the Nassau County Legislature, taking the majority by a 10-9 margin. The party also made historically unprecedented gains in town elections.

The restaurant Papa Razzi in Westbury, serving as Democratic party headquarters, was alive with unfettered jubilation and incredulous glee as poll numbers revealed several improbable victories for the Democratic party, which as recently as last year lacked a sense of unity and direction.

Democratic Chairperson Thomas DiNapoli, who has been credited for unifying the party, beamed victoriously as he read aloud the startling results. Among those replaced by Democratic challengers was Republican Bruce Blakeman, the Legislature's presiding officer. With the shift in power, Democrat Judy Jacobs, the minority leader, is expected to take on that majority leadership role.

Jacobs, who beat Republican Lois Weinstein in a landslide victory, said that voters were turned off by the Republicans' "smugness" and "arrogance" in the face of a $300 million deficit.

"The people of this county resented the way they spoke and resented the way they acted, and the people spoke tonight. And I'm so proud," said Jacobs, who represents the 16th Legislative District, which includes Woodbury and parts of Jericho and Syosset.

"I don't know where it's all going to settle down tonight, I don't know how many seats are won, but I hope that everybody who won on either side of the aisle realizes that the people of Nassau County deserve no less from us than to be honest and forthright and to work in a bipartisan way."

"The voters are very smart. You have wrecked the Republican machine!" shouted U.S. Representative Gary Ackerman, not up for election but present for the celebration. Ackerman suggested that the results may have national implications. "They're reading these results in Washington, D.C. and great things are going to happen in this country, just as they are happening right now in the county," he said.

Locally, Vincent Muscarella, who represents the 8th Legislative District, including Garden City, was one the Republicans who did manage to hold office in the Legislature, proving to be too much for Democratic challenger Brian Paradine.

Altogether the Republicans lost seats in five districts - the first, fifth, seventh, 18th and 19th - while every Democrat successfully defended his or her seat.

The sudden shift in power was a demoralizing blow to the Republicans, who convened somberly at a joyless Levittown Town Hall. Despite the figures, Republican leader Joseph Mondello assured the public that the party would recover.

"Let me start off by announcing to the world that the Republican Party is still alive and well, and viable, and will be, when we start the election for the year 2000," Mondello said.

Mondello blamed Newsday for negative coverage of his party, saying, "We stood up to the Newsday machine, and we gave it all that we had...They're the ones in power now."

The Democrats experienced breakthrough victories on the town level as well as the county level, particularly in Hempstead and Oyster Bay, where in both cases, at least two Democratic challengers earned positions previously held by Republicans.

Andrea Morale contributed to this story.