2026 New York General Election

BACKGROUND
Williams, 55, of Hempstead, is a registered Democrat running on the Democratic Party line in the general election.
She is a tenured professor of English at Nassau Community College. She holds a B.A. in English from Johnson C. Smith University, an M.A. in English from Howard University, a master’s degree in Curriculum and Teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University, an M.A. in Higher Education Administration from Boston University, and a PhD in English from City University of New York Graduate Center.
Williams is a trustee of the Board of Education of the Hempstead School Board, recording secretary and board member of the Hempstead Chamber of Commerce and is on the board of the Hempstead Community Land Trust.

Joylette E. Williams and Town Clerk, Town of Hempstead

Joylette E. Williams earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Johnson C. Smith University, a Master of Arts in English from Howard University, a master's degree in curriculum and teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University, a Master of Arts in higher education administration from Boston University, and a PhD in English from the City University of New York Graduate Center. She is a trustee of the Hempstead School Board's Board of Education, recording secretary and board member of the Hempstead Chamber of Commerce, and a board member of the Hempstead Community Land Trust.

Joylette E. Williams - Newsday

Joylette currently works as a tenured professor of English at Nassau Community College.

O’Connell and Phillips Extend GOP Hold on Clerk and Comptroller Offices
Republicans continued their sweep in county offices as Maureen C. O’Connell (RC) won another term as County Clerk with 56.72% (143,542 votes) over Joylette E. Williams (D), who received 43.24% (109,438 votes).

West Hempstead Election Results

Joylette previously ran unsuccessfully for county clerk.

ISSUES

Williams said that if elected, she would work to improve the efficiency of the Clerk’s Office, including streamlining the process for filing FOIL requests and making it easier to file passport applications and applications for permits and licenses.
She said she also would seek to digitize paper records.
Williams also said she would work to ensure the Clerk’s Office is independent from the supervisor and the town board.

Plans to streamline Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests and applications for passports, permits, and licenses to improve the efficiency of the Clerk’s Office.

Plans to keep the Clerk’s Office independent of the supervisor and town board.

- Plans to streamline Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests and applications for passports, permits, and licenses to improve the efficiency of the Clerk’s Office.
- Plans to digitize paper records.
- Plans to keep the Clerk’s Office independent of the supervisor and town board.

Administration

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Joylette E. Williams

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

A graduate of Boston College and Suffolk University Law School, Town Clerk Murray is a lifelong resident of Levittown.

Town Clerk Kate Murray

Kate Murray is a lifelong resident of Levittown. She graduated from Boston College and Suffolk University Law School.

Staff Directory • Kate Murray - Town Clerk - Hempstead Town, NY

Before serving as an elected official, Murray worked as an Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Justice Section handling prisoner litigation. Prior to her work with the Attorney General, she served as an advocate for the Suffolk University Battered Women's Advocacy Project representing victims of domestic violence.

Following her former time at Hempstead Town, Murray continued to serve the residents of Nassau County as Vice President of Institutional Advancement for Nassau Community College from 2016-2019 and as Deputy County Clerk for Nassau County in 2019.

Kate Murray previously worked as deputy county clerk for Nassau County and vice president of institutional advancement for Nassau Community College. She also worked as an assistant attorney general in the Criminal Justice Section and as an advocate for the Suffolk University Battered Women's Advocacy Project.

Kate previously worked as deputy county clerk for Nassau County and vice president of institutional advancement for Nassau Community College. She also worked as an assistant attorney general in the Criminal Justice Section and as an advocate for the Suffolk University Battered Women's Advocacy Project.

Welcome to the Hempstead Town Clerk's webpage! From issuing Marriage Licenses, Child ID cards, and commuter parking permits, to helping residents explore the world through our streamlined passport application services, the Office of the Town Clerk provides a plethora of offerings to the public in a convenient format.
As your Hempstead Town Clerk, I am committed to providing residents with the highest quality services in a user-friendly environment.
I invite you to connect with my office by utilizing this website and exploring the many Town Clerk services that are available online.
It is a privilege to serve as your Hempstead Town Clerk.

Town Clerk

As your Hempstead Town Clerk, I am committed to providing residents with the highest quality services in a user-friendly environment.
I invite you to connect with my office by utilizing this website and exploring the many Town Clerk services that are available online.
It is a privilege to serve as your Hempstead Town Clerk.

As Town Clerk, Murray introduced some of that office's most popular programs including the Town's "One-Stop Passport Shop," the convenience of issuing commuter parking permits at LIRR stations themselves, and accessibility of certain permits and licenses through the Town's website.

As Clerk, “Kate’s firsts” included:  

Town Hall’s one-stop passport facility.  
Mobile passport service.  
Document / record imaging (added security, reduced paper).  
On-site LIRR parking permit program.

Kate for Clerk

Committed to providing high-quality, user-friendly Town Clerk services and making services available online.

Introduced a one-stop passport shop, parking permits at Long Island Rail Road stations, and online access to certain permits and licenses.

Introduced document and record imaging to add security and reduce paper use.

- Committed to providing high-quality, user-friendly Town Clerk services and making services available online.
- Introduced a one-stop passport shop, parking permits at Long Island Rail Road stations, and online access to certain permits and licenses.
- Introduced document and record imaging to add security and reduce paper use.

New York Town Clerk, Hempstead

Candidates (2)

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Administration