Expressing concern that residents and businesses are leaving the Third Legislative District, Ali Mirza of Elmont announced his candidacy for legislator. The Democrat will challenge incumbent Republican John Ciotti this November in the Third District, which encompasses Elmont, North Valley Stream, Valley Stream, Franklin Square, South Floral Park, Bellerose Terrace and portions of West Hempstead.

"People cannot afford to live here and are fed up with the quality of life going down, rather than up. We have issues that vary from street cleaning, noise, and parking to safety, security and teenagers hanging out aimlessly," said Mirza, who has been a resident of Elmont for 15 years.

Mirza, who claims he isn't a politician but a business man with an insurance business in Franklin Square, said he is sick and tired of property taxes going up and the decrease in quality of life.

Part of the role of a Nassau County Legislator is to have input into the budget process. Although residents may be seeing increases in taxes, the county tax is a relatively small portion of the tax bill, which seems to be dominated by the school taxes. In the last three years, County Executive Tom Suozzi has touted balanced budgets without a tax increase.

Yet, Mirza feels, as a legislator, he can help ease the burden on taxpayers even when it comes to county and town taxes. He feels the Third Legislative District needs to have a stronger plan for economic development and hopes to attract businesses such as medical technology businesses to the district.

"The current legislator does not appear to have developed any comprehensive plan for our district. Concerned individuals and organizations have given many suggestions and have received little response or action. Lack of planning and resources has prevented growth and development," he said. "I will plan and develop strategies that will bring in economic development to our communities."

Mirza said he would create a community advisory board comprised of civic, community, business and religious leaders to improve quality of life and help attract business to the district in order to increase the tax base. "When I am legislator, I will have district meetings with this board on a regular basis so that the community is constantly empowered in dictating and directing its future," he said.

Despite the fact that the county has been operating with a Democratic county executive and legislature, Mirza, a Democrat, criticized governmental waste. "One of the reasons our taxes are so high is that Nassau County, and specifically our district has too many layers of government. We have about 400 layers of government and special districts in Nassau County. I will work with all parties to eliminate unnecessary and useless layers of government," he said.

Despite criticizing high taxes, Mirza said he would increase funding for youth activities and after school programs and work to build a Community Recreation Center.

Mirza, who also said he also favors raising the legal smoking age to 19, said he plans on continuing the turnaround the county has experienced under the current administration.

"I will work to continue our streak of three consecutive balanced budgets with no tax increase. I will also protect the ten successive bond rating upgrades Nassau County has received in just three years. This is very important, as only three and a half years ago this county was almost bankrupt under the long Republican administration," he said.