Tidbits: Suozzi endorsement; Kopel's shaky leadership; Sheriff's 125th anniversary party

 

 Suozzi captures endorsement

The Great Neck-based "Jewish World" just endorsed former U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi, a Glen Cove Democrat, in his race against Nassau Legis. Mazi Pilip in the Feb. 13 special election for the vacant 3rd District Congressional seat.

That has to be a blow to Pilip, a black Orthodox Jew from Great Neck who served in the Israel Defense Force before immigrating to the United States: A Jewish publication from her home base going with Suozzi, a Catholic Democrat.

Suozzi had served three terms as the 3rd District Congressman until he gave up the seat in 2022 to run unsuccessfully for New York governor. Though running on the Republican and Conservative lines, Pilip is a registered Democrat.

It's particularly stinging because it comes just as Pilip and U.S. Rep. Anthony D'Esposito, a first term Republican representing the 4th Congressional District, held a news conference "to denounce the open borders and sanctuary city politics of the Biden Administration, former Congressman Tom Suozzi and Governor (Kathy) Hochul..." according to a news release..

Mazi Pilip

Pilip's campaign got off to a very slow start after Republican 3rd District Congressman George Santo last month was expelled from the U.S. House for lyng and alleged money laundering.

After Hochul set the special election, Suozzi seemed to be everywhere, speaking on everything, while denouncing Pilip for not taking questions or debating him. (One public debate is scheduled on News12 on Feb. 8.). Pilip appeared mostly absent.

Pilip finally settled on a campaign theme of blaming Suozzi for the illegal immigrant crisis on the United State's southern borders, an issue that polls say is first in concern among voters around the country. Television commercials began hitting the air waves in the last week.

Local Republicans attribute the slow start to the National Republican Committee for not committing enough resources and money to promote Pilip.

Is it too late to win over voters? 

On Long Island, the branding of opposing candidates early and often (think Todd Kaminsky and bail reform) seem more successful than the old practice of putting all resources into the final three weeks before the election.

But never count out Joe Cairo, chairman of the Nassau Republican Committee. His foot soldiers will be hitting the streets for Pilip ahead of early voting, which starts Feb. 3.

 Kopel leadership shaky?  

The 12-member GOP majority on the county legislature early this month voted to install Howard Kopel, a  veteran Republican lawmakers from Lawrence, as the legislature's presiding officer.

Howard Kopel.

But how long will he last?

It used to be that Nassau's presiding officer was elected by a majority of the 19 legislators for a two-year term.

The rules were changed this year.

Now, instead of a fixed term, the leadership position depends on keeping a majority happy.

From the newly adopted legislative Rules of Procedure:

That means, theoretically, that the seven Democratic lawmakers could join with three maverick Republicans to oust Kopel and install a new leader, much like the deposing of U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy from leadership of the U.S. House.

By the way, here are the bonuses paid to legislators who serve in leadership positions, on top of their $87,304 annual salary.

Sheriff's $125th Anniversary Party

Ever since the invitation to the Sheriff's 125th Anniversary Gala went out, people were wondering whether federal American Rescue Act Plan funds were used to pay for the event.

After all, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman had proposed, and the legislature's Republican majority approved, directing $10 million of the federal money to events for Nassau's 125th anniversary.

Republicans say the events will stimulate the county economy and boost revenues for local business. Democrats deride the plan and say the money would be better spent helping the homeless and needy.

The questions grew even louder behind the scenes when Blakeman posted on his Facebook page a photo of a conservative former Milwaukee sheriff speaking at the sheriff's event.

Oddly, however, as the Democrats denounced Blakeman's "125th anniversary party" none publicly asked who paid for the Sheriff's celebration -- though an insider said today that an inquiry had been posed privately.

This blog asked who paid.

A Blakeman spokesman said in an email today that no ARPA money was used for the event. He said the New York State Sheriff's association paid for the gala and for Clarke's appearance.