Suffolk AME union chief Cheryl Felice ousted

Challenger Dan Farrell has ousted Cheryl Felice, president for nine years of Suffolk County's largest public employee union.

Farrell, treasurer of the 6,500 member Association of Municipal Employees, defeated Felice by 1,891 votes to 1,770 in a race in which 61 percent of the union membership turned out. Elected along with Farrell was his seven-member slate.

"The economy is hard on everyone and it's bad for union elections," said Felice. "Members were looking for someone who represents the change they were seeking," she said, pledging to assist in the transition.

Farrell did not return calls.

Felice last year agreed to a four-year pact that included a two-year pay freeze and 2 percent increases last year and this year, after the union dropped its opposition to the county nursing home's closing.

"I think it's a strong message that members are in revolt over what happened to nursing home workers last year," said Paul Sabatino, a former chief deputy county executive who has worked as a union consultant. "They are afraid the same could happen to them."

Farrell, who takes over July 1, faces more than 600 possible layoffs of employees funded only through June, and County Executive Steve Bellone may seek more union concessions.