I write in final response to the latest John Rennhack letter.

Facts, as Ronald Reagan once said, are stubborn things.

The fact is that the Democrats took power in Nassau County following the 1999 elections. We are in the fourth year of Democrat control of the legislature, and the second year of Democrat control of the executive branch.

The facts are that over the past three years, county property taxes have risen over 60 percent and the county spending has increased by $500 million - that is one-half a billion dollars.

I know that given the record of tax and spending by the party in power, that the Democrats desperately want to point fingers and look backwards.

I also know that discussions of public policy and elections are about the future.

I will not be responding to the partisan ramblings of Mr. Rennhack any further.

I am sure your readers want to move on.

Peter J. Schmitt

Minority Leader

Nassau County Legislature