Ford says she is not running again amid more talk about moves in Nassau, North Hempstead

Some critics call it the "Blakeman effect."

Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is known to be a hard-charger who tends toward autocratic dictates ever since his days as the county legislature's first presiding office from 1996 through 1999.

But some current legislators may just feel its time to quit, regardless of Blakeman's demands.

Right now three of the current 19 county legislators are leaving and there are questions about one more.

Legis. Denise Ford of Long Beach, a registered Democrat who has run and won as a Republican since 2003, just confirmed that she is not running again after much speculation about her intentions. 

Denise Ford

Every two years, Ford has threatened to quit but has always been talked out of it in the past.

Her colleagues were waiting to see if Nassau Republican Chairman Joe Cairo, who has led Republicans to unexpected victories in the past two years, would convince her to run again.

Ford tends to follow her own path rather than party orders. Ford was a Long Beach leader in questioning the actions of former city manager Jack Schnirman, a Democrat who left the city in financial shambles while also approving excessive payouts to current and former city employees. Ford faced anonymous smears and attempts to discredit her for going after Schnirman.

She responded to an email today questioning whether she is running or not:

"It is official that I will not be running," Ford said.

Political insiders have known that Republican Legis. Laura Schaefer of Westbury was not running for re-election after she was drawn into Democrat Legis. Siela Bynoe's Democratic district under new legislative district maps approved by the Republican county majority.

Laura Schaefer

Presiding Officer Rich Nicolello, a New Hyde Park Republican,  yesterday confirmed to Newsday the wide-spread rumors that he would not seek re-election after serving on the legislature since it began in 1996.

Rich Nicolello

There also are questions on the Democratic side after Democrat legislator Josh Lafazan of Woodbury and Legis. Arnold Drucker of Plainview were placed in the same district by the new legislative boundaries.

Will they primary each other or will one drop out?

Then, if Republicans maintain their majority in November, who will become the new presiding officer?

Although Republican Legis. Howard Kopel of Lawrence is now deputy presiding officer, betting is that
Republican Legis. Thomas McKevitt of East Meadow, a former member of the state Assembly, will be the choice because of his calm demeanor and judicial temperament.

Tom McKevitt

Now to North Hempstead.

It was well understood recently in the political world that former North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman, a Great Neck Democrat*, had decided to try for another term, running against current supervisor Jennifer DeSena. Kaiman had served as town supervisor from 2004 through 2013.

Jon Kaiman

DeSena, a registered Democrat, won an upset victory two years ago as a Republican in the Democratic controlled town.

Jennifer DeSena

Kaiman most recently has been a deputy to Democrat Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, who is term limited from running again. That means that not only will Bellone lose his job come January, so will Kaiman.

But what about Veronica Lurvey, the Democratic North Hempstead Town councilwoman who appeared to be running for supervisor over the past two years, acting as the council's Democratic spokesperson and responding to every DeJena initiative as though Lurvey was in charge.

How did Kaiman ace out Lurvey?

Veronica Lurvey

Well, Lurvey was redistricted out of her own district in the town's controversial redistricting map -- approved by the Democratic majority on the town council.

That was puzzling. 

But her path became clear when longtime Democratic Tax Receiver Charles Berman reportedly said he is retiring.  Lurvey will run for his townwide job.

Charles Berman

Not that Lurvey is known for her acumen on assessment, but neither were the Republican town tax receivers in Oyster Bay and Hempstead when they were elected.

Berman, in contrast, has a very knowledgeable view of assessment. He has been tax receiver since 2010. Before that he worked in the county assessment department.

As he says on the town website, the tax receiver just bills for taxes set by schools and other municipalities, he does not set them. 

However, given Nassau's complicated assessment system, the tax receivers usually have to correct errors in the county assessment rolls every year before the bills go out.

In addition, although Democratic North Hempstead Councilman Peter Zuckerman is being screened for family court by the Nassau Bar Association, he has not yet been cross-endorsed for the job.

The same appears true for Ellen Tobin, wife of former Democratic state Sen. Todd Kaminsky of Long Beach, who left office after he lost a bid for Nassau District Attorney.

Tobin at this point is just being screened. She has yet to cross-endorsed.

 

 

*Corrected party affiliation. (Expect typo-type corrections for a good hour after items are posted.)