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Likely successor to Nassau assessor to start job

Celeste Hadrick on Long Island; Stacey Altherr; Melissa Mansfield in Albany; Rick Brand on Long Island

July 7, 2008

With Nassau Assessor Harvey Levinson expected to retire soon, his predicted successor starts today.

Anthony Brita, 38, a West Hempstead school board member, was nominated by County Executive Thomas Suozzi and confirmed by the legislature to be the $125,000-a-year vice chairman of the Board of Assessors. The vice chairman is second-in-command of the assessment department and takes over if Levinson steps down as he has promised. Brita succeeds Chumi Diamond, who earned $82,500.

If voters agree to make the assessor an appointed position this November, Suozzi will appoint Brita, sources said. If the job remains an elected position, Brita will be the Democratic nominee, they said.

Brita, who worked as vice president for procurement at Credit Suisse, is not well-known politically. A party source said he was chosen for his credentials. "He's got a very good grasp of the issues facing the assessment department," added a Suozzi spokesman.

Brita said he became familiar with assessment's impact during his year on the school board, and while serving on the West Hempstead Civic Association board. "I've sort of educated myself on how assessment works." He acknowledged many homeowners are angry about their assessments. "I was joking ... [that] if people think Harvey Levinson is the seventh ring of hell, I guess this makes me the sixth." - Celeste Hadrick on Long Island

SMITHTOWN BOARD

Birds start a ruckus

No, it wasn't a disruptive citizen who interrupted that Smithtown town board meeting on June 26. It turned out a mama peacock and her babies were doing the squawking. The ruckus occurred at the senior citizens' center where the meetings are held. During the public hearing sessions, the loud mewing sound, which appeared to come from somewhere in the room, turned out to originate under the window on the courtyard. Councilwoman Patricia Biancaniello told the audience that it was the newborn birds and their mother making the noise that had those in the meeting wondering. The female peacock gave birth to five babies the previous week. - Stacey Altherr

THE PATERSON WATCH

At their first public appearance together last week, Gov. David A. Paterson and newly elected Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R- Rockville Centre) were all smiles. They'd met privately in New York City to discuss unresolved issues from medical malpractice to property tax relief.

Paterson said he would not call the Senate and Assembly back as a means of coercion, but he added that he does view the legislature as full-time.

"I don't think there will be any problems getting the legislators to come back because while they are home, that are hearing about this issue," he said of property taxes. "Everywhere I travel, from Montauk to Buffalo, everyone is talking about the escalating property taxes."

Paterson said be believed in another six weeks or so there could be enough "valid negotiations" to warrant requesting legislators return to the Capitol.

The governor, who was Senate minority leader until 2006, joked that Skelos' appointment allowed him to have something most governors do not get in their first 100 days in office - seniority over a legislative leader.

- Melissa Mansfield in Albany

TODAY ON THE BLOG

Suffolk Legis. Ricardo Montano (D- Central Islip) has dropped his bid for State Senate and is backing fellow Islip resident Jimmy Dahroug. "I want to stay in the county legislature and I don't want to divide the vote for Jimmy," said Montano, who was miffed when Brookhaven Supervisor Brian Foley, a last-minute entry to the race and now the front-runner, blew off a meeting hours before the county party convention. Dahroug, who works in the county probation department and has already lost twice against incumbent state Sen. Caesar Trunzo, called Montano's backing "very significant" because in the 2006 Democratic Senate primary he and Montano captured 65 percent of the vote in a three-way race. He also noted Islip makes up 55 percent of the Senate district. But Foley said the impact of Dahroug's endorsers will be "negligible," noting his strong backing from others like Assemb. Ginny Fields (D-Oakdale), Presiding Officer William Lindsay (D-Holbrook) and Rep. Steve Israel (D-Huntington).

- Rick Brand on Long Island

NAKED AMBITION

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player? Vote at newsday.com/spincycle.

1. Rep. Anthony Weiner saying of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, "He's had a lap dog press corps."

2. Wealthy upstate maverick Tom Golisano letting it be known he may get in the fight for the State Senate by backing candidates with $1 million each.

3. Retired Gen. Wesley Clark tweaking Sen. John McCain by saying: "I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president."

Last week's "winner" (results unscientific): Barack Obama campaign manager David Plouffe, for announcing formation of grassroots "persuasion armies" to get swing voters to back the Democrat.