A file photo of Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano, left,...

A file photo of Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano, left, and Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy at a breakfast hosted by the Long Island Association Woodbury. (Jan. 31, 2011) Credit: Newsday / Howard Schnapp

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy and Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano addressed Long Island's largest business group Monday. And the differences between the two presentations were astonishing.

Levy, in a 19-minute address, talked about the need for a county executive to take charge, to be strong enough to fend off criticism for actions he deems necessary, to gore sacred cows.

Mangano used a portion of his 19-minute remarks to tout accomplishments, including passing the cost of property tax refunds back to schools and other taxing districts. The rest of the time he spent bashing Newsday, former County Executive Thomas Suozzi and, in his harshest terms yet, the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, for the county's fiscal ails.

No one could blame Nassau's elected officials for lashing out against a control board elbowing in on their turf. But Republicans in Nassau run the risk of spending too much time slamming the board and too little fixing the problems.

Here's where Mangano - who will remain firmly in charge of public policy in Nassau, lawsuit or no, even under a control board - can take a few tips from Levy.

To be fair, Levy didn't talk about the hot-button issues in Suffolk, which include criticism over his office's handling of a draft hate-crime report and the ongoing trial of former county lawmaker George Guldi.

Still, when Levy talked at the Long Island Association's business breakfast in Woodbury, a crowded room of local business and political leaders listened. He talked about fiscal issues such as a state property-tax cap, changing the law on binding arbitration in labor contracts and keeping personnel costs tight.

And, more than once, Levy made clear, he's in charge in Suffolk. He is responsible, he said, come what may.

"We need leaders who are going to stand up and say, we need to go in a different direction," Levy said. "There are many things that are part of the status quo that are unsustainable."

And then Levy went into detail about what needs to be changed:

He wants to see a 2 percent cap not just on local property taxes, but on pay increases coming out of binding arbitration, which would help him control the police budget.

He wants to see public workers make contributions to health care. He talked about needed changes in the pension system.

Like him or hate him - Levy also told the tale of a police officer in the latter camp, whose car bears the license LEVY-666 - the county executive has no problem about standing up.

Contrast that with Mangano, who spent too much time looking back and blaming others.

It doesn't matter anymore. Nassau's got a control board - unless a judge decides otherwise.

"Shame, shame on what is going on here," Mangano said, referring to NIFA as a "shadow government."

But hold on a moment: Mangano said NIFA would raise taxes. "All they talk about is revenue, revenue, revenue and that's code for raising taxes," Mangano said.

NIFA can't do that; it will be up to Mangano and other elected officials to decide how to make the budget work.

If taxes get raised it will be because Mangano and Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa) can't find enough cuts. And Schmitt, as he indicated yet again Monday, is adamantly against raising taxes.

Mangano, also a Republican, blasted NIFA for "a failure to reform the assessment system." Again, that wasn't NIFA's job; it was once Democrat Suozzi's and now it's Mangano's - who, indeed, is trying to reform the system.

Mangano said NIFA twisted the statute that created it to take control of Nassau's finances; he also said that for eight years - Suozzi's term - the board had neglected to do its job.

Let's say, for the sake of discussion, that it's true, that all of it is true.

It does nothing to change the present, or the fact that even Republicans who support Mangano acknowledge that his 2011 budget is soft on the revenue side.

Mangano said that the county had a surplus last year. Surplus? More like money left over from borrowing.

Monday evening, Pat Foye, a deputy county executive, resigned after issuing a statement disagreeing with his boss' decision to blast NIFA and file suit.

Mangano came to office fresh-faced, full of good ideas and eager to lead. The county needs that leadership now more than ever. Control board or no, Mangano's leadership role remains key.

And in the midst of this fiscal crisis, the last thing he needs is the distraction of a lawsuit. It's the budget. It's the labor contracts. It's the assessment system. It's getting down and dirty to change how things work - or don't work - in Nassau.

Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV Credit: Newsday

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