ARC chair replacement chosen (Updated)

                                                                                  

While Nassau Republican legislators have held up certifying County Executive Laura Curran's appointment of Robin Laveman as county assessor,  Curran reportedly already has chosen Laveman's replacement as chair of the Assessment Review Commission.

Curran's appintment of Joan M. Gibbons Quinn as the new ARC chair was submitted to the legislature late this afternoon, two county sources say.                               

Joan M. Gibbons Quinn

Quinn, of Garden City,  is a former partner in the tax appeal division of the Jaspan Schlesinger law firm and former law secretary to now- retired Nassau Supreme Court Justice Joseph DeMaro, who handled a number of tax appeal cases during his many years on the bench.

People who know Quinn describe her as competent attorney who "knows her stuff."

This all assumes, of course, that Laveman eventually becomes assessor.

Republicans said last week they want a referendum to turn the assessor's job back into an elected position as it was until 2008 when former Democratic County Executive Thomas Suozzi successfully campaigned to turn the  assessor into an appointee of the county executive.

Republican lawmakers also like Laveman, according to Presiding Officer Richard Nicolello (R-New Hyde Park).

"We all know her..."Nicolello said at a news conference. "We like her. She's a nice person."

"But she's not an assessor," Nicolello said, contending that she doesn't have the certifications required by county charter for assessor.

Many county officials assume Laveman will obtain the certifications necessary to be eventually be appointed to the assessor's job.