Ra resigns from Hempstead
Longtime Hempstead Town Attorney Joseph Ra, the Franklin Square Republican leader, reportedly told GOP town board members earlier this month that he was leaving after he used up his accrued time. Now insiders say he quietly departed Thursday after 36 years with the town.
As expected, insiders say Ra has landed at the Nassau Elections Board, starting today, for a salary of about $133,000.
Ra had been at odds with Republican Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin since Clavin defeated former Democratic Supervisor Laura Gillen last fall.
Clavin has said he wanted his own choice for town attorney, though insiders say he also was skeptical of Ra's amiable relationship with Gillen. Gillen had said during a pre-election candidate's forum that she had worked with the Republican town attorney. "We all get along fine," she said.
Ra, too, said in an interview that he had worked cordially with Gillen. ""I got along with her very well," he said. "We were there to govern."
Ra, who started with the town in 1984 as a deputy town attorney, had argued that he deserved to continue in his job, telling colleagues that his efforts to bring out the Republican vote in Franklin Square helped Clavin clinch his victory over Gillen.
Ra also served on the town board at one point and is a close ally of Nassau Republican Chairman Joseph Cairo.
Ra began collecting a $87,534 pension in 2016. He also earned $184,000 as town attorney.
Part of the undercurrent between Clavin and Ra had to do with Ra's handing of town contracts for concessionaire Butch Yamali, who operates the Malibu and the Sands beach clubs for the town.
Gillen attacked the towns' dealings with Yamali, contending the concessionaire hadn't paid months of rent at the Malibu at the same time town officials extended his contract without town board approval.
Newsday reported that Yamali had paid Cairo and his son over a million dollars for legal and project management work at the Malibu beach club from 2009 through 2019.
Gillen also complained that there was no formal contract with Yamali to operate the Sands. During that period, Ra's daughter held her wedding reception at the beach club. But Gillen did not point this out at a news conference where she said the town was liable for Yamali having events like wedding receptions at the Sands without a formal contract.
Yamali has denied all wrongdoing: He said the town owed him money for improvements he made to the Malibu and that he does have a contract to operate the Sands.
Ra said his daughter booked the Sands for her reception without his knowledge.
Federal and state investigators are looking into Yamali's dealings with the town, Newsday has reported.
As expected, insiders say Ra has landed at the Nassau Elections Board, starting today, for a salary of about $133,000.
Ra had been at odds with Republican Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin since Clavin defeated former Democratic Supervisor Laura Gillen last fall.
Clavin has said he wanted his own choice for town attorney, though insiders say he also was skeptical of Ra's amiable relationship with Gillen. Gillen had said during a pre-election candidate's forum that she had worked with the Republican town attorney. "We all get along fine," she said.
Ra, too, said in an interview that he had worked cordially with Gillen. ""I got along with her very well," he said. "We were there to govern."
Ra, who started with the town in 1984 as a deputy town attorney, had argued that he deserved to continue in his job, telling colleagues that his efforts to bring out the Republican vote in Franklin Square helped Clavin clinch his victory over Gillen.
Ra also served on the town board at one point and is a close ally of Nassau Republican Chairman Joseph Cairo.
Ra began collecting a $87,534 pension in 2016. He also earned $184,000 as town attorney.
Part of the undercurrent between Clavin and Ra had to do with Ra's handing of town contracts for concessionaire Butch Yamali, who operates the Malibu and the Sands beach clubs for the town.
Gillen attacked the towns' dealings with Yamali, contending the concessionaire hadn't paid months of rent at the Malibu at the same time town officials extended his contract without town board approval.
Newsday reported that Yamali had paid Cairo and his son over a million dollars for legal and project management work at the Malibu beach club from 2009 through 2019.
Gillen also complained that there was no formal contract with Yamali to operate the Sands. During that period, Ra's daughter held her wedding reception at the beach club. But Gillen did not point this out at a news conference where she said the town was liable for Yamali having events like wedding receptions at the Sands without a formal contract.
Yamali has denied all wrongdoing: He said the town owed him money for improvements he made to the Malibu and that he does have a contract to operate the Sands.
Ra said his daughter booked the Sands for her reception without his knowledge.
Federal and state investigators are looking into Yamali's dealings with the town, Newsday has reported.
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