On Tuesday, Republican Steven Rhoads, a Bellmore Republican, beat Rita Kestenbaum, a Bellmore Democrat, in a special election in the Nassau County Legislature's 19th District. He will now be filling the 19th Nassau County legislative district seat, which was unfilled since former Legis. David Denenberg (D-Merrick) resigned.

According to unofficial votes tallied by the Nassau County board of elections, Rhoads beat Kestenbaum by a margin of 58 to 41% out of over 5,600 votes cast. Rhoads is an attorney, who had attempted to beat Denenberg. Kestenbaum is a former Hempstead town councilwoman. Both belong to Bellmore.

Rhoads said in a Facebook post, "I am very honored that our community has elected me as their representative in the Nassau County Legislature. Earning your trust, confidence, and support is extremely humbling and an honor for which I will always be grateful".

The GOP majority in the Nassau legislature needs just one more seat for a majority of 13 votes. Presently, they have 12 of the 19 legislative seats. This margin would allow Republicans to permit borrowing measures without the requirement of Democratic support.

Last month, Republican James D. Kennedy beat Democrat Joseph Stufano in a special election for filling the 12th Nassau County legislative district seat, which was unseated. In November, Michael Venditto, the son of Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto, was elected to fill the 8th New York State Senate seat, which was vacated by former Sen. Charles Fuschillo a year ago.

Denenberg had walked out after pleading guilty to charging over $2 million worth of legal services that he never provided.