By Samuel Rubenfeld

Democrats retained their majority in the Nassau County Legislature Tuesday by winning a special election in the 11th Legislative District in a landslide. The election drew an extremely light turnout, with less than 3,500 votes counted after all election districts reported their results Tuesday night.

Wayne Wink, a North Hempstead town councilman, received over four times as many votes as his opposition, Lou Chisari, a Republican lawyer from New Hyde Park. The total count was 2,872 votes for Wink and 599 votes for Chisari.

The seat was vacated after a special election on Feb. 6, when Craig Johnson (D-Port Washington) was elected to the New York State Senate’s 7th District in a hard-fought election against Maureen O’Connell (R-East Williston), a registered nurse.

Johnson inherited the seat in 2000 when his mother, Barbara, died.

The election allows the Democrats to continue to control the legislative calendar, leadership and committee assignments.

It also continues the one-party control of the Nassau County Executive and Legislative Branches of government.

Wayne Wink is an alum of the University holding a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, according to the biography on his Town Council website. He is an adjunct professor of Political Science at the University and a practicing attorney.

Republicans did not pursue the election as forcefully as it did the Senate election six weeks ago, citing a Democratic voting history in the district.

The entire legislature is up for reelection in November, so Wayne Wink, in order to keep his seat, must win again six months after earning it.

The district includes the Town of North Hempstead and the hamlets of Roslyn, Port Washington, Garden City Park and Sands Point.

Democrat Wayne Wink, a member of the North Hempstead Town Council, won a seat in the Nassau County Legislature in a special election. He is replacing Craig Johnson, who could not finish his term since he was elected to the New York State Senate.