Luis Montes leaves Steve Bellone administration

Suffolk’s Albany lobbyist Luis Montes is the latest official in the administration of Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone to make an exit.

Montes, who has been with Bellone since he became county executive in 2012, left Friday. He is restarting the consulting firm Pan American Communications with Babylon Town Board member Tony Martinez and his father, Luis Montes-Brito, who also is a $51,125-a-year aide to Legis. Monica Martinez (D-Brentwood).

“After 15 years in the public sector it’s about time to do some private stuff,” said Montes, who on Thursday also will begin a radio talk show on WLIE/540 AM.

Montes, 36, also the Islip Democratic chairman, joins other former top Bellone aides Jon Schneider, Lisa Santeramo and Ryan McGarry in leaving the administration in recent weeks.

Montes’ departure from his $144,594-a-year post comes in the final weeks of the State Legislature session.

Jason Elan, Bellone’s spokesman, had no details on efforts to replace Montes or how the administration plans to deal with Albany issues until a replacement is found.