Nassau Democrats flip their support to Corbett?

                                                                                 

Laura Gillen

The rash of emails and tweets yesterday about the Democratic primary for the Congressional seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-Garden City) was a surprise to many who had been following the political machinations of the race.

Up until yesterday, it was fairly well understood by party regulars that former Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen was the favored candidate.

She originally was slated to run for the state senate seat being vacated by Sen. Todd Kaminsky (D-Long Beach), but switched her sights when Rice unexpectedly announced she would not seek re-election. (There still is no good explanation in political circles as to why Rice, Nassau's former district attorney, dropped out.)

Gillen had defeated Republican Hempstead Town Supervisor Anthony Santino in a upset victory in 2017 that made her the first Democrat in a century to hold that seat in the very Republican town.

Two years later Republicans took back the supervisor's job by electing then Town Receiver Don Clavin.

Everybody has a different reason as to why Gillen lost, from Republicans staying home in Hempstead in 2017 because they didn't like Santino --  to the possibility , voiced by Nassau and State Democratic chairman Jay Jacobs. that voters had mistaken Laura Gillen for County Executive Laura Curran, who had just caused an uproar across Nassau be reassessing all its homes. (As you know, Democrat Curran lost her bid for re-election last November.)

But Gillen still had the distinction of beating the so-called unbeatable Nassau Republican machine.

But on Friday, Jacobs sent out a blast email telling supporters and donors to hold off in contributing money to any of the many candidates in the race until the party made its choice.

And that's when insiders said the odds had changed in favor of Malverne Mayor Keith Corbett, a member of the Harris Beach law firm, led in Nassau by chief Democratic strategist Tom Garry.

Corbett's name had been bandied about as soon as Rice announced her pending departure, but nobody paid him much attention at first.

He first made news in Newsday in 2014 when he advised village trustees in Bayville, as their new village attorney, that they could lock out members of the public at their meetings and go into executive session "to discuss pertinent business or other matters of a confidential nature that may properly come before the board in executive session."

The head of New York's Committee on Open Government disagreed.

Corbett was also Gillen's attorney during her transition and then oversaw her losing recount in 2019.

He was elected Malverne mayor in 2019.

Newsday's The Point yesterday said Jacobs "described Corbett as a Democrat who has done well in a Republican district and is respected for legal work that includes a specialty in election law. In that role, Corbett has often aided other party players, Jacobs pointed out, and built a lot of relationships." 

Pundits say Corbett's status rose within the party because of his perceived ability to raise money for the race. Remember Jacobs went out early with a hard endorsement of Gov. Kathy Hochul in the Democratic primary for governor in part because of her likelihood of raising big bucks. (Hochul reported in January a record $21.6 million in contributions collected in less than five months since becoming governor after Andrew Cuomo resigned.)

Presumably Harris Beach clients would contribute to Corbin; and the law firm seems to be everywhere these days. And maybe not just Democrats would donate.

Corbett attended the Pat Cairo Foundation dinner last night, an annual charity event organized by Nassau Republican Chairman Chairman Joseph Cairo and his children in honor of his late wife, Pat.

The dinner is considered a must-attend event for Nassau Republicans. Apparently for some Democrats too.

After Zack Fink tweeted Jacob's email yesterday afternoon,  Rice tweeted this: 

"No wonder Democrats in Nassau county lose with this kind of leadership."

 Clearly, Rice saw the changing odds.

Other announced Democrats in the race to replace Rice include Nassau Legis. Siela Bynoe of Westbury and Legis. Carrie Solages of Lawrence, former Hempstead Supervisor candidate Jason Abelove and Dustin Ginsberg of Merrick.

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