WHO WILL HELP? PRIVATE CHARITY OR GOVERNMENT?
What a spring it’s been for Long Island county execs. Now Nassau and Suffolk both have executives without the power or the moral authority to lead.
Any other year, Ed Mangano would definitely be the weakest county chief within miles. He doesn’t even run his own budget any more. The poor can’t buy a paperclip unless some alphabet soup of an obscure state agency calls a meeting and says okay.
How embarrassing must that be?
This year, it’s only enough for a second place showing in the embarrassed county-executive sweepstakes. Suffolk’s Steve Levy has just managed his own valiant race to the top.
Remember when Long Island county executives were august and feared figures? You can file that under “ancient history” now.
Levy’s sudden meltdown is especially undignified and especially self-inflicted.
Whatever the details of the campaign-money violations that he and District Attorney Tom Spota allude to, they were totally unnecessary. He had no chance of winning the governor’s race and no chance of losing any run for county executive – until now.
But what does Levy believe in? That’s what’s been so difficult to discern. Is he a Democrat or a Republican? A liberal or a conservative? A big spender or a tightwad? The future or the past?
What we have most of all this weekend is the weakest executive in two-county Long Island narrowly beating the other guy.
NO THIRD TERM – THE WHOLE EXPLANATION?
1. Questions were raised.
2. Something occurred on my watch.
3. Want to relax and reflect with my family.
4. Shall pursue other opportunities.
5. No further comment.
E-mail ellis@henican.com.
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