Behr wins Nassau District 16 seat
The Plainview attorney defeated Olivia Pfeifer by a ten-point margin to replace retiring legislator Arnold Drucker.
By Carolina Wood ·
Jared Behr secured the open seat for Nassau County Legislature District 16 on Tuesday. The Democratic candidate from Plainview defeated Republican challenger Olivia Pfeifer. Unofficial early returns from the Nassau County Board of Elections show Behr received 55.07% of the vote. Pfeifer received 44.86% of the vote. The result keeps the district under Democratic control.
The victory replaces Arnold Drucker, a Democrat from Plainview who retired after ten years in office. Drucker chose not to seek reelection. This win is part of a wider Democratic trend across the country. Voters shifted power away from President Donald Trump’s administration and into Democratic hands in Congress. On Long Island, Democrats also won state Senate and Assembly seats as well as the Town of Hempstead supervisor’s race.
Behr, a father of two, focused his campaign on responsible spending, road repairs, and combating hate crimes. He stated that his first actions will include working with the Nassau County Anti-Bias Task Force. He also plans to begin oversight hearings to provide a check on executive power. In an interview, Behr said he felt ecstatic about the outcome. He noted that voters wanted a government that listens and stands up to antisemitism.
A swastika was recently found at a Plainview-Old Bethpage Middle School. Behr has already contacted Mary O’Meara, the superintendent for Plainview-Old Bethpage. He also spoke with Patrick Ryder, the Nassau County Police Commissioner, and Drucker. In a statement, Behr expressed gratitude to the school administration for involving the police quickly. He described the rise in antisemitic acts in Nassau County schools as incredibly discouraging and said he was outraged.
Behr said the community must educate younger generations about hate symbols. He intends to work with the board of education, local religious leaders, and police to root out antisemitism through education and early intervention. He promised to monitor the situation closely and update the public as details are confirmed.
Before this election, Behr built a legal career spanning nearly 16 years. He currently works at a small litigation firm in Woodbury. He previously served as an assistant district attorney for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from New York University and a law degree from Touro Law School. He lost a 2023 bid for the Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor position against Joseph Saladino.
