Incumbent Judy Jacobs currently serves as Presiding Officer of the Democratically-held Nassau County Legislature and is running for her fifth term as county legislator. She represents the 16th Legislative District, which now includes Plainview, Syosset, Woodbury, East Norwich, Oyster Bay Hamlet and Jericho.

After redistricting, the communities included in the 16th district changed and Jacobs said she is excited to represent communities that she once worked with as a civic leader. "I was very involved with all of the Town of Oyster Bay as a civic leader," said Jacobs. "The new areas that I am covering are very familiar areas to me and their concerns have always been my concerns. I understand the environmental sensitivity of the area and I am looking forward to an opportunity, if I am fortunate enough to be re-elected, to represent them."

Since the Democrats became the majority in January 2000, Jacobs dedicated herself to restoring the fiscal integrity of Nassau County. Her support of the County Executive's 2003 budget and four-year plan has proven to be a stabilizing force for Nassau. These changes have not gone unnoticed by independent financial rating agencies, such as Fitch and Moody's, who upgraded the county's bond status, sending a clear message that Nassau is moving forward again.

"I am proud to say that we took a county that was on the verge of bankruptcy, that was one level above junk bond status, that was rated in Governing Magazine as the worst run county in the nation, and have literally turned it around," said Jacobs. "The fact that we have been taken off negative credit watch onto positive credit watch has to stand out as the greatest achievement on the county level and we are not done yet There is a lot more to go."

Jacobs has set local and county-wide goals for herself if re-elected next month. "On a county level, I plan to continue the recovery of Nassau," she said. "Most people's largest investment and equity in their lives is their home and a county on the verge of collapse doesn't help that equity to grow or to be stable. I feel that we have begun a wonderful movement forward of recovery and we have a responsibility to the residents of Nassau County to continue to recovery and moving forward. We have rounded a big corner and it would be absolutely beyond words to express my feelings if we ever lost the majority now. We have seen the negativism and the obstructism of the minority on the Legislature and I am deeply concerned that if we lose the majority, this county will come to a grinding halt."

Jacobs has also demonstrated a commitment to the environment and helped lead the way by supporting pioneering legislation to preserve open space, recreational areas and other environmentally sensitive areas in the county. She was endorsed by the Sierra Club, the League of Conservation Voters and the Environmental Voters Forum. "The protection of open space that we have now is very important," said Jacobs. "I have proven myself and have a track record in helping the environment."

Jacobs has also been very involved for her constituents on a local level. "I am proud that I was the founder of the regenerated Syosset Chamber of Commerce," said Jacobs. "I gave $125,000 to Syosset for revitalization and had traffic lights installed in critical areas in my district. These are things that I point to with great pride. As a resident, mother and grandmother, I realize the necessity to protect the health, safety and welfare of our residents. It is a dual role, and I don't confuse the two. I understand the importance of local involvement and to be available for my constituents. I also take very seriously my role as presiding officer and I understand that we have the ability to actually bring this county fully out of near bankruptcy that it was once in."

Jacobs has been a resident of Woodbury for 35 years and is married to Sid. They are the proud parents of three grown children, Jackie, Lenny and Linda, and have six grandchildren.

"I would be honored and humbled to have the opportunity to finish what we have begun in Nassau County and that is total recovery," said Jacobs. "The choice is an easy one -go back to the time of imminent budgetary disasters or to continue to move Nassau forward with hope and a very realistic expectation of an even better tomorrow and I put my faith in the voters' choice."

Born in Bronx County Patricia Doyle moved to Nassau County with her family at the early age of eight months. Doyle attended St. Raphael School in East Meadow and Sacred Heard Academy in Hempstead. She currently lives in Syosset and is running on the Republican line for the 16th Legislative District, which now includes Plainview, Syosset, Woodbury, East Norwich, Oyster Bay Hamlet and Jericho.

Developing an interest in Criminal Justice, Doyle received an Associate Degree from SUNY Farmingdale as well as Bachelor and Master Degrees from Long Island University, CW Post Campus where she graduated with honors and was a graduate assistant prior to graduation.

Later she attended the Columbus School of Law of the Catholic University of America, in Washington, DC. While attending law school, she worked part-time at a law firm in Maryland and worked at the Justice Department administering the Public Safety Officers Benefits Act.

After receiving her Juris Doctor in 1982, Doyle returned to Nassau County and opened her own law firm in 1984. During those years, she maintained a general practice of law and became increasingly more involved in representing children in the Nassau County Family Court.

In 1991, Doyle was selected as a full-time attorney in the Family Court. As a staff attorney she is responsible for advising the judges of the Court, researching questions of law and conferencing cases prior to the parties appearing before the judges.

During her years as an attorney, Doyle has been very active in several lawyers' organizations. She is a member of the New York State Bar Association, a member and past president of the Nassau Lawyers Association of Long Island and a member of the Steering Committee of the Family Law and Procedure Committee of the Nassau County Bar Association. In addition, Doyle has lectured fellow attorneys in the area of Family Law on behalf of the Appellate Division, Second Department, the Nassau County Bar Association and Nassau Lawyers' at its annual seminar in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Doyle has also remained active in numerous community organizations. She is active in her church, Syosset's St. Edward the Confessor, as a Eucharistic Minister to the homebound and most recently as a member of the Parish Council.

As a Blood Captain for both the AOH/Marine Corps League and the Nassau County Family Court, Doyle helps recruit people to donate the gift of life. After recruiting people, Doyle is then there to hold the hands of first-time donors so that their giving experience is one they will likely repeat again and again.

Preserving her Irish culture and heritage is also very important to Doyle. She is a member and past president of the Ladies' Ancient Order of the Hiberians, Div. 15 in Massapequa Park as well as Legal Council to the LAOH National Board since 1996. Doyle said she is very proud of all of the charitable projects she has been involved in through the LAOH.

Also of importance to her, as well as a lot of fun, Doyle has been playing the bagpipes with Tara Pipes and Drums since 1984. This unusual pastime has provided many great opportunities - marching in the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City, marching in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, playing onboard the USS Intrepid, playing annually for the veterans at the VA Hospital in Northport and playing annually at the Opening Ceremonies for the New York State Games for the Physically Challenged, to name only a few.

Doyle is an experienced attorney serving the families of Nassau County for 19 years. She is an active member of her community and looks forward to representing the 16th legislative district if elected next month.