Legislator David Mejias phone (516) 571-6214 fax (516) 571-6134 Committees: Health & Social Services - Chair Public Safety - Vice Chair Judiciary - Vice Chair	Upcoming Events   Latest News 11-18-08    Legislator Mejias Proposes Landmark Bill to Combat                  Suburban Teen Heroin Epidemic
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Biography:

Since first being elected to the Nassau County Legislature in 2003, Dave Mejias has been a vital partner in Nassau’s remarkable financial turnaround.  In his first four years, he has passed balanced budgets and NEVER VOTED FOR A TAX INCREASE. For the fifth straight year, the Legislature approved a “no tax increase” budget for Nassau county taxpayers, and added belt-tightening measures for county departments while funding programs that benefit the County’s neediest residents.  During this time Nassau County has received twelve bond rating upgrades from independent Wall Street rating agencies—more than any other municipality in America.  Nassau now has an “A” bond rating for the first time in a decade.

Throughout his tenure in office, Dave Mejias has made public safety a top priority.  He has led the effort to keep our children safe from sex offenders by sponsoring the toughest Megan’s Notification Law in New York State, and sponsored legislation implementing residency restrictions for sex offenders.  Most recently, Legislator Mejias sponsored and passed legislation that allows law enforcement to install computer monitoring software on the computers of registered sex offenders and those guilty of endangering the welfare of a child where the crime was facilitated by a computer. By installing hardware and software onto a convicted sex offender's computer, law enforcement is able to track convicted sex offender’s activityon the internet.   If an inappropriate site is visited or improper words are typed, an email alert is immediately dispatched to local authorities.  Through the use of this inexpensive and reliable technology we are turning the tables on predators, using the very same technology they use to prey on our children against them. Legislator Mejias was also instrumental in the hiring of 721 new police officers since 2004, more than the previous ten years combined.  Legislator Mejias is proud that in 2005 Nassau County was rated the safest place to live in America by Forbes Magazine and the FBI.  Crime is now at a 41 year low!  Because of his leadership, Legislator Mejias was named Vice Chairman of the Legislature’s Public Safety Committee.

Because of his commitment to quality-of-life and child care issues, Dave Mejias sponsored the nationally-recognized Social Host Law. The legislation makes it possible for party hosts to be prosecuted if alcohol is found to be consumed by underage guests.  It closes a loophole in the law and sends a clear message to adults that allowing underage youth to consume alcohol is not acceptable and it’s against the law.  Social Host legislation has also been proven effective at reducing teen drinking in other municipalities. Additionally, Legislator Mejias proposed a local law that will inform parents and protect children from violent video games by requiring game retailers to alert the buyer of a game's rating and to also conspicuously post the rating system.  This provides parents with all available information and allows them to protect their children from the violent and gratuitous behavior displayed in many video games. 

In an effort to bring government to the people Dave Mejias has hosted over 70 town hall meetings throughout his district, including the first ever held in the Fourteenth Legislative District.  These meetings are designed to keep residents informed on important issues in their community, helping seniors with their tax exemptions, providing information for residents on how to challenge their assessments and a series called “Why our Taxes are so high”, among others.

Dave Mejias has authored several pieces of environmental legislation, including the first local legislation in America banning the sale of arsenic-treated wood for residential use.  He has also sponsored a county tax exemption for home solar power systems, supported the county’s purchase of more “green” renewable energy, and banned the use of ATVs in county parks and preserves. Additionally, Legislator Mejias was a leader in securing a $50 million environmental bond in 2005 and a $100 million environmental bond approved by the voters in 2006. These two bonds provide funds to preserve the few open spaces left in Nassau County, and will ensure that future generations have natural areas to explore. Because of this commitment to protecting our environment, Dave Mejias was named the 2006 Environmental Champion of the Year by the New York League of Conservation Voters.

Dave Mejias has made government more accountable by writing and sponsoring the most comprehensive Ethics Reform Bill in Nassau County history.   He also sponsored a “Whistleblower Legislation” to further protect and encourage County employees to report waste, fraud, and abuse. 

As Chairman of the Nassau County Legislature’s Health & Social Services Committee, Dave Mejias is proud to join County Executive Tom Suozzi in his “Healthy Nassau” initiative making Nassau County the healthiest county in the nation by the year 2020.  Mejias, an avid runner who competed in the Long Island Half Marathon in 2005, 2006 and 2007, has made healthy living a priority both personally and as a County Legislator.  Additionally, he holds annual “Supersize Me” Seminars in local schools and libraries, educating children and parents on healthy eating so they can make healthy choices.

Dave Mejias serves as Chairman of the Health & Social Services Committee. He is also Vice Chairman of the Public Safety, Judiciary & Rules Committees.

In the private sector, Dave Mejias started his own business at the age of 26.  He is now the managing partner of Mejias Milgrim & Alvarado, P.C., with law offices in Glen Cove and Hempstead.  Mejias’ law firm has represented numerous victims of domestic violence.  As a Legislator, Dave Mejias was instrumental in securing $300,000 in additional funding for victims of domestic violence and their families.

Dave Mejias, 37, was raised in Farmingdale and played football at Farmingdale High School (Class of 1988).  He later graduated from SUNY Albany School of Business.  He earned his JD from Fordham Law School.