Nassau Republican Legis. Ed Mangano (center, red tie) rallies supporters at his campaign headquarters in Bethpage on Election Night. Mangano is looking to unseat Democratic County Executive Tom Suozzi.
Nassau Legis. Ed Mangano, the Republican candidate looking to unseat two-term County Executive Tom Suozzi, a Democrat, remains confident and optimistic in the final hours of Election Night as voting results begin to trickle into his campaign headquarters in Bethpage.
His war room, located in the back of a storefront adjacent to HR Singletons Restaurant, is abuzz with activity. Volunteers usher in and out. Telephones ring. A television blares the local news station. Mangano analyzes election district maps that drape the walls. A marker board near the door is loaded with faded scribbles of old campaign stops.
“We ran a solid grassroots campaign,” Mangano tells the Press. “I’m very confident our message was well-received and will carry us to victory.”
In the adjacent room, dozens of volunteers and supporters cheer as he walks through the crowd, shaking hands and thanking everyone: “Edd-ie! Edd-ie! Edd-ie! Edd-ie!”
Red, white and blue balloons float against the ceiling, their shiny streamers spiraling down among the crowd. Campaign literature litters several tables and decorate the walls. The mood is electric.
“This is it,” smiles Mangano, amid the fray. “It’s all grassroots.”
“We’re going to do it,” he adds.
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