Ex-Levy deputy's appearance draws protest

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy's ex-chief deputy, Christopher Kent, appeared at a meeting Nov. 3 on behalf of his new employer, the Farrell Fritz law firm, on a proposed sale of 200 county acres in Yaphank, drawing protest from Levy's office. "Our people were shocked and surprised to see him there and immediately objected to his presence," said Mark Smith, Levy spokesman, who said Kent was the county's "lead person" trying to develop affordable housing in Yaphank. Smith cited a two-year charter ban on ex-officials' involvement in matters they handled in office. Kent, who left the county six weeks earlier, said he was just there to help identify parcels the firm's client might seek to acquire. Firm partner Peter Curry later informed officials that Kent wouldn't appear as attorney on the purchase and said the "misunderstanding" has been "dealt with."-- Rick Brand