LI Fed sidesteps endorsement in Nassau DA race

The region's largest labor group, representing more than 250,000 local union members, is taking a pass on endorsing either candidate in the hotly contested Nassau district attorney race between the acting District Attorney Madeline Singas, a Democrat, and her Republican challenger, Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray.

In the past, the Long Island Federation of Labor has endorsed former District Attorney Kathleen Rice, a Democrat and now a congresswoman from Garden City, and Suffolk District Attorney Thomas Spota.

But last Monday it could not muster the two-thirds majority of the board's 40 members required under union rules for an endorsement.

As a result, officials say they will leave it to member unions to make endorsements of their own.