Beedenbender leaving politics for private sector

Brian Beedenbender, a former Democratic Suffolk lawmaker, will leave the staff of Rep. Tim Bishop (D-Southampton) Jan. 10 to take a job in the private sector.

Beedenbender, 33, who also served as chief of staff for former Brookhaven Supervisor Mark Lesko, will become director of inside sales for TEQ, a company based in Huntington Station that sells educational software.

"I loved working for Tim," said Beedenbender, now a Farmingville resident. "But it was too good an opportunity for me to turn down," especially since he plans to marry next summer.

Bishop already has hired a replacement, former county aide Adam Santiago.

-- Rick Brand