Suozzi had powerful backing for Garden City post

Former Glen Cove Mayor Ralph Suozzi, a Democrat, had high-powered references when he was hired last month as $190,000-a-year village administrator for Republican-controlled Garden City.

Not only did Rep. Steve Israel (D-Huntington) recommend him, but so did Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford). "I am pleased to give . . . my strongest possible recommendation," King wrote in a letter posted on the village website. "Perhaps most importantly in this time of hyper-partisanship, even though Ralph and I belong to different political parties, he always conducted business in a totally non-partisan manner." Israel hailed Suozzi's "vision, innovative spirit and ability to bring people together." Suozzi could not be reached.-- Celeste Hadrick