Michael Martino moving to NUMC? 

Michael Martino, communications director for Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, could move to a new job at Nassau University Medical Center next month, doing outreach and communications for the East Meadow hospital.

George Tsunis, chairman of the board of Nassau Health Care Corp., the public benefit corporation that runs NUMC, said he was looking for a vice president of communications to help him transition the hospital from a sickness center to a wellness center, to provide detection and prevention services to Nassau communities.

Tsunis, appointed by Curran earlier this year, said he has known Martino for a long time and considers him a “great get.” He noted that Martino also worked in communications for Curran’s predecessor, Republican County Executive Edward Mangano; has done public relations in the private sector and was an editor and columnist at the Long Island Press.

“I would love to recruit Michael,” Tsunis said. “But this is a board decision. There are seven other people on the board. But it would be something I would wholeheartedly support.”

Tsunis said salary had yet to be discussed. “That is a board decision,” he said.

Curran last week said Martino, who earns $158,000, was responsible for an erroneous robocall about a senior citizen tax exemption deadline made to 400,000 Nassau residents, instead of 3,500 senior citizens.

The call brought hundreds of worried seniors, some using walkers and canes, to the county assessment department to wait in long lines to clarify their status. Martino apologized publicly for the confusion.

Martino said in a statement when asked about a possible move to NUMC, “I have been honored to serve County Executive Curran as she chose to bravely take on difficult issues that are critical to Nassau County and put government, not politics, first. It’s been an incredible 12 months and now I am looking forward to exploring new opportunities. I’ve known George for a long time and the admiration is mutual.”