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Nassau Independence Party to back GOP's Donno

Rick Brand on Long Island, Dan Janison on Long Island, John Riley on Long Island

July 14, 2008

INDEPENDENCE PARTY

Committee backs GOP candidate

Overruling Nassau chairman Bobby Kumar, the state Independence Party's executive committee is backing GOP State Senate candidate Barbara Donno against Democratic Sen. Craig Johnson.

The panel voted 24-1 for Donno one day after Frank MacKay, state and Suffolk chairman, said he'd support Kumar, who'd petitioned for Johnson.

"It was decided that this is in the best interest of the state," said MacKay, an ally of Senate Republicans who are fighting to keep a majority. "Having a government with checks and balances is more important than anything else."

Several sources say the Independence Party fears Democratic state domination would curb minor-party power by banning cross-endorsements. McKay said: "I don't want the whole state controlled by one party in New York City."

Republicans circulated a nominating petition for a 24-year-old friend of Donno's son - who dropped out hours after petitions were filed. MacKay is due to file Donno's name today with election officials.

Doug Forand, Democratic Senate campaign spokesman, accused GOP leaders of "starting their dirty tricks campaign early."

- Rick Brand on

Long Island

SUFFOLK VOTERS

Window may be cut

Fed up with last-minute vetoes, William Lindsay, presiding officer of the Suffolk Legislature, is drafting legislation to cut County Executive Steve Levy's time to issue vetoes from 15 days to seven, say highly placed legislative sources.

The proposal could be filed as early as this week.

Levy withheld vetoes on $58-million in community college capital projects until after last month's regular meeting, forcing Lindsay on Friday to call a third special session in a month where overrides were carried out. Salting the wound, Levy asked why he should have made that easier for them.

"People on both sides are angry with him," said one source, "and what Levy's done is just stupid."

- Rick Brand on Long Island

THE PATERSON WATCH

Last Monday, we reported on Capitol insiders' perceptions of chaos in the Paterson administration during its first session, expressing uncertainty over which aides held what authority.

Tuesday came three appointments: Terryl Brown Clemons as $178,000-a-year acting counsel, Dennis Whalen as $178,000-a-year interim state operations director, and Joe Baker, as $165,000-a-year acting secretary for health and human services, replacing Whalen. Asked about the tentative titles, spokesman Errol Cockfield said: "The administration is ... assembling a new leadership team. We're in the midst of an active search for candidates to fill these positions."