Schaffer basks in Bellone's win, mulls run
Photo credit: Newsday/Thomas R. Koeniges | Richard Schaffer, 14, on the phone in a trailer at Sunset Shopping Plaza. Schaffer ran the eight-telephone canvassing operation for the Babylon Democratic ticket, every night, after finishing his homework. (Nov. 5, 1977)
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News 12 Long Island's Island vote series
Suffolk County Democratic chairman Richard Schaffer knows more than most about getting out the vote -- he's been doing it since he was 12.
His political career started in 1974 papering his North Babylon neighborhood with fliers for congressional candidate Tom Downey, in exchange for pizza and soda. By 14, Schaffer was running the phone bank for town Democrats. Later, as student government...
