Ex-Suffolk GOP chief Powell joins consulting firm

Ex-Suffolk Republican chairman John Powell, jailed a decade ago for bribe-taking, is joining the Bohemia firm Strategic Planning, owned by veteran political consultant Michael Dawidziak. Powell played a key role behind the scenes last year in John Jay Lavalle's ascent as county GOP chairman. Powell said he'd been "gun-shy" about consulting for pay but loves the business and does it well. "There's no secret about my past," he said. "If someone thinks it's a problem, then they don't have to hire me."

- Rick Brand