Suffolk hires new talent, with family ties

Peter Scully Jr., 30, son of the regional director of the state Department of Environmental Conservation, started Monday as a $75,000-a-year economic development specialist in Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone's new administration, working on the environmental impact of potential development projects. "I can honestly say I played no role," said Peter Scully Sr. "But if they were looking for a fresh talent, they found one."

The younger Scully, an attorney, clerked for a judge in Alaska and was a State Department environmental compliance official in Bangkok. He applied to the Bellone transition team website and got an interview. A Bellone spokesman said Chief Deputy Regina Calcaterra knew of the elder Scully but did not make the connection and the family tie never arose in the interview.-- Rick Brand