Moriches art teacher lands $77G IDA job

A newly-created $77,000- a-year marketing job at the Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency will go to Amy Illardo of Moriches, daughter of Republican County Clerk Judith Pascale and fiancee of Republican Assemb. Dean Murray.

Illardo, a fine arts teacher in the William Floyd School District, is registered with the Independence Party. Pascale and Anthony Manetta, the IDA's executive director, are allies of state and Suffolk Independence Party chairman Frank MacKay.

Pascale said she played no role in the hiring of her daughter, who simply filed a job application with the Bellone administration. She called Illardo "totally apolitical" and said her skills and the agency's needs are a "perfect match." Defending the hiring, Deputy County Executive Jon Schneider cited a need for aggressive marketing as states try to lure away local companies.-- Rick Brand