With every election comes the chance to start anew and change for the community.

Patch hit the streets of Merrick and spoke to a few community members about what they are looking for in an elected official and what will make the difference for them this year.

Bill Pezzulo explained that what he is looking for is a candidate with integrity and one that puts the people first.

"I would like to see someone in office who will work for the people," he said. "I really feel that too many people take the office for granted and make it more for themselves."

Dan Checkla of North Bellmore, echoed this sentiment. "A lot of the reps don't come to meetings and we don't see them in the community," he said.

Checkla also told Patch that the biggest issue for him this election is jobs and what the officials will do to bring higher-paying and higher-tech jobs to the Town of Hempstead.

"We are closing schools because young people can't afford to live here and bring their families here. We don't have good paying jobs – we need to promote more high-tech and manufacturing jobs. Some of those industries left and we are going to have to replace those. We can't expect people to go to the city everyday. The Town of Hempstead can't compete with the rest of the county, let alone the State," he explained.

While jobs and taxes also weight heavily on Mickey Ferrandino's mind this year, she is also disappointed in the waining police presence in Merrick and the fact that Nassau County is looking to close two precincts after already cutting POP officers.

"There has been a substantial loss of cops in my area," she said. "They are such a great deterrent of crime, that we don't have that much and they are being taken away from us."