Biography:

Personal background

Rich Nicolello is a life-long resident of New Hyde Park. He and his wife Susan have two children, Kathleen and Patrick.

Legislative Service

Rich Nicolello currently serves as the Deputy Presiding Officer of the Nassau County Legislature. Legislator Nicolello also serves as the Chair of the Legislature’s Finance Committee. He is the Vice Chair of the Rules Committee, and is a member of the committees for Budget Review, Planning, Development & the Environment and Economic & Community Development.

Legislative Record

Legislator Nicolello has supported measures to hold the line on county taxes and provide county services in the most efficient, cost-effective manner possible. With the Majority in the Legislature, he has voted for three consecutive no-tax increase budgets. Legislator Nicolello has sponsored and supported laws to:

• Repeal or stop $485 million in new taxes on Nassau families and taxpayers.
• Forced the repeal of the regressive Home Energy tax on heat and electricity.
• Stopped the implementation of the previous administration’s planned property tax hikes totaling 16.5%.
• Voted against tax increases of 42.3% passed by the former Legislative Majority.
• Trim the county workforce
• Utilize public-private partnerships to reduce the costs of transportation and inmate healthcare.  By partnering with a private entity, Nassau now saves $33 million annually on bus service formerly operated by the MTA.  Nassau also now saves $8 million annually through a partnership to provide healthcare to inmate in the Nassau County Jail.
• Streamline the organization of the Nassau County Police Department to eliminate duplicate administrative positions, saving $20 million while maintaining the same number of patrols.
• Consolidate 10 county departments into just four, saving taxpayers tens of million dollars annually. 
• Support the county Industrial Development Agency, and helped create and retain 4,000 private sector jobs in Nassau County
• Expand tax exemptions for seniors, veterans, the disabled and firefighters to the maximum amount allowed by law.
• Require the County to prepare an economic and financial impact statement for every new proposed law.
• Establish Nassau County’s Environmental Bond Program which provided $150 million in funding to preserve open space, protect drinking water and upgrade deteriorating parks.

Community Involvement

Legislator Nicolello is active in numerous community organizations and activities, including:

• Member and past president of the New Hyde Park – Floral Park Kiwanis Club.
• Club Secretary, Mineola Lions Club.
• Member, Cellini Lodge (Order Sons of Italy in America).
• 3d Degree Member, Knights of Columbus, NHP Council.
• Member, Notre Dame Parish.
• Member, Elks Club, NHP Lodge.
• Former coach, Wildcats Soccer Club.
• Member, Parks Civic Association.
• Member, New Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce.
• Associate Director, Irish-Americans in Government.
• Co-Chair, American Committee on Italian Migration
• Member, Friendly Sons of St. Patrick.
• Member-at-Large, Shelter Rock District, Theodore Roosevelt Council, Boy Scouts of America.
• Honorary Policy Committee Member – Jewish Advisory Network for Security on Long Island.
• Member of numerous professional organizations, including the Nassau County Bar Association and Columbian Lawyers' Association (the professional association of Italian-American attorneys).

Education

Mr. Nicolello received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and Politics (Magna cum Laude) from St. John's University. He received his Juris Doctor from Fordham Law School. He is a member of the Alumni Associations of Fordham Law School and St. John's University.

Professional Experience