Race tests Levy's clout as GOP leader

Martin Haley, attempting a comeback as a county legislator, is using an endorsement that he never imagined he'd ever accept when last in office -- Steve Levy's.

Haley served four years with Levy when the county executive was a Democratic legislator and Haley was part of a GOP majority. Now, party mailings tout Haley, 60, as "part of the Levy team" and Levy hails him as a vote to "hold the line" on taxes.

"It still feels kind of weird," Haley admits.

His opponent, Democrat Sarah Anker, 46, a former Mount Sinai school board member and environmentalist, is hoping to capitalize on her community ties and strong labor backing to make the race competitive, although Republican voters outnumber Democrats by 4,400.

"When I started, the . . . field was pretty tilted," Anker said. "But when people compare Marty's background to mine, they will be tired of old political games and want someone fresh."

The March 29 special election is significant because it's the first race testing Levy's imprimatur for a GOP legislative contender since he changed parties last year. Long a GOP stronghold, the seat also became key to Democrats after Legis. Jack Eddington, part of the Democratic majority caucus, decided not to run.

Haley, a legislator from 1996 to 2003, said he's far more experienced, as chief deputy county treasurer to his current job as town building commissioner and Suffolk Federal Credit Union board chairman. "There's a clear difference between me and my opponent; I will not need job training," he said.

John Jay LaValle, Suffolk GOP chairman, said, "When you're sick, you call a doctor. Marty's real strength is finance and that's what people need right now."

But Democrats paint Haley of Miller Place as a lawmaker who left before his term was up to take a succession of patronage jobs. Marc Alessi, new Brookhaven Democratic chairman, said Haley could not even win his home district when he ran for town supervisor in 2009. "He walked away from the job and it left a bad taste in voters' mouths, he said.

Anker says she has two decades of experience with various community groups. "I may be new to the political arena, but I've helped create policy," she said. As Brookhaven's part-time director of energy she administers a $4 million grant to make homes energy efficient. She was also part of a civic group that stopped a proposed Home Depot in 2000 to create the popular 17.5 acre Heritage Park. "When I . . . mention the park, people's eyes light up," she said.

Haley has outraised Anker $66,000 to $25,000 but Democrats say grassroots efforts by labor will have a major impact in what's expected to be a low turn out race. But LaValle said union leaders backing Anker shows a "real disconnect with members."