George Maragos, now a Democrat, was regular GOP donor

Nassau Comptroller George Maragos said last week he had been at odds with county Republican leaders on various issues “for years,” helping lead to his decision to switch his registration from Republican to Democrat and seek the party’s nomination for county executive next year.

But despite those differences, both Maragos and his campaign committee continued contributing regularly to the county GOP committee.

State board of elections records show that Maragos’ campaign gave the Nassau GOP $3,625 in 2015 and he personally gave them another $700 between March and May of this year.

The records, which only cover through mid-July, show no contributions to Democrats.

Newsday reported in May that Maragos had met with Nassau Democratic chairman Jay Jacobs as he mulled a party switch and county texecutive run. “It is strictly principle,” Maragos said last week of his decision to change parties. He said that “over time, I found that my values have become more aligned with the Democratic Party” on local issues such as fiscal management.

Paul LaRocco

By Paul LaRocco

paul.larocco@newsday.com@paullarocco

Paul LaRocco is a reporter on the investigations desk. Since starting at Newsday in late 2010, he has also covered Nassau and Suffolk county politics and government and the Town of Oyster Bay.