Beedenbender eyed to run for highway post

After Democrat Brian Beedenbender lost a bid for Brookhaven supervisor Tuesday, Suffolk party chairman Richard Schaffer called him his top choice in a special election for highway superintendent. Beedenbender said that night he wasn't interested -- but, Schaffer said, "He hasn't sat down with me yet."

GOP prospects include town board member Dan Panico, Legis. Tom Muratore (R-Ronkonkoma), restaurant owner John Giannott and Assemb. Dan Losquadro (R-Shoreham). Suffolk GOP chairman John Jay LaValle also expressed interest, but sources say relations with town Republican chairman Jesse Garcia are strained, and that Garcia has no interest in giving LaValle a post so flush in patronage jobs and contracts. -- Rick Brand