D.A. Rice mum on Theofan's new job

Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice, whose office is investigating Long Beach's civil service system, declined to comment on County Executive Edward Mangano's hiring of former City Manager Charles Theofan. But the Democratic district attorney had something to say in 2010 after the Republican city manager wrote to her that the expected arrest of a young Long Beach employee would be a "terrible mistake." The city would stand behind the employee "one hundred percent," he stated.

Rice replied she would not be affected "by political threats;" that she found Theofan's letter "inappropriate and inconsistent with your role as a government official sworn to uphold the law" and "of absolutely no import" to her office. The employee, later charged with a misdemeanor, was acquitted. Neither Rice nor Theofan would comment.-- Celeste Hadrick