Having represented the ninth legislative district, which encompasses Carle Place, parts of Westbury, East Williston, Garden City Park, Mineola, New Hyde Park and Williston Park, since the Nassau Legislature's inception in 1996, Richard Nicolello knows the job ahead will be difficult.

With Nassau fiscal troubles well documented, the role of the legislature has changed somewhat in recent days from a law-making body to one that is trying to help solve the county's financial problems and restore fiscal stability.

Having to work with a Democratic majority of the legislature, Nicolello, a Republican, is working toward the day when Nassau will be looked upon as a county that practices sound management. It will take, Nicolello said, tough decisions that are sometime going to be unpopular. However, he vows to continue to make tough decisions to get the county back on track.

"It's a tremendous challenge with the county's fiscal issues," he said, four weeks prior to Election Day on November 6. "That looms over everything we do. People know about the budget issues, but they probably know about how poorly the county has been managed over the years."

Besides focusing the county's fiscal situation, Nicolello said he would also like to help constituents on issues related to the communities he represents. However, he admits it is difficult with the focus so strong on finances. "Government doesn't really respond to the individual constituent the way it should, but when they call my office, I'll call on their behalf and try to track down the information they are looking for, not just on the county level, but also on the state and federal levels. People tend to respond to other governmental levels quicker," he said.

Aside from finances, Nicolello wants to help find possible solutions to other county problems such as the traffic situation, which he called "abominable," and other quality of life issues. As the chairman of the legislature's committee on planning, development and the environment, Nicolello helped develop a comprehensive plan that contains goals and policy recommendations for issues such as traffic, senior housing, the preservation of resources, child care and strengthening the main streets of business districts.

Nicolello has been a supporter of preserving open space while he also has helped secure grants for the operation downtown and beautification programs in the communities in his district.

He also pointed to assessment as an issue he is concerned with. Property tax refunds have put a financial strain on the county and so with the process of reassessment under way, Nicolello said he is concerned with how it will negatively impact the communities in the ninth legislative district. "Areas like Manhasset and the North Shore communities are going to see increases in assessment and everyone agrees to restore equity is not a bad thing, but what's going to happen is that some older houses are going to be deemed underassessed. That includes communities like Mineola, New Hyde Park and Williston Park," he said.

Nicolello said that if some residents see an increase in taxes because of the reassessment, they are going have trouble remaining in their communities. "That's not an acute issue for this campaign but it's going to be a big issue," he said.

In county races this year, any issues that may in past elections have been considered of primary importance are now being overshadowed by the county's fiscal problems and the legislature's role in the budget process.

When the Democratic caucus of the legislature submitted their budget proposal last year, it called for a 15.4 percent tax increase, which was vetoed by the county executive. Needing three Republican votes to override the veto, the Republican caucus declined to override. Ultimately the property tax increase amounted to just over 7 percent.

This year, the budget process has started all over again with Nassau County Executive Thomas Gulotta having submitted a budget that has not been received well by Republican or Democratic members of the legislature. "Democrats and Republicans are looking at it and scratching their heads. The numbers don't add up," Nicolello said. "We're going to have to take it apart and put in back together again."

While it would be tough to argue that all members of the legislature are vying for fiscal stability, the opinions on how Nassau will get there differ. Nicolello pointed to a new corrections officers contract that will increase the officers' pay, passed by the Democratic majority, which, he said, is troubling because it may affect the new police department contract, which is expected to go to arbitration. "They build on each other. A sizable increase like that in the police contract is one thing that can bankrupt the county," he said.

Although tax increases may ultimately be necessary in the county, Nicolello said he would like the legislature to continue to look at ways of consolidating departments and cutting additional spending. Of course, that will take some difficult decisions because certain cuts could jeopardize the quality of services residents receive.

But making difficult decisions is nothing new. "We've made some difficult decisions the last two years and passed some bipartisan bills to cut the deficit," said Nicolello, who voted for a package of measures that cut the deficit by more than $100 million and co-sponsored a plan to use any budget surplus that came as a result of aid from the Nassau Interim Finance Authority (NIFA) to pay down the debt.

The New Hyde Park resident and father of two is ready to continue the challenge of helping to be part of the solution to the county's financial problems while handling other issues that may arise. "It's going to take some time. It's going to take several years before we really see the situation resolved," he said, but added, "Ultimately, it is going to be resolved. It's going to be brought back to good fiscal health."