Brian Devine replaces Greg Blower as Hempstead Town spokesman

The Hempstead Town Board replaced spokesman Greg Blower with veteran communications official Brian Devine on Tuesday during its regular meeting.

Blower, who is also known as Bruce G. Blower II, resigned his position and was appointed a deputy commissioner in the department of planning and economic development with no change in salary. Payroll records show that in 2023 Blower’s salary was $160,742 and he was paid $173,079.

Devine was appointed with a temporary status and a $140,000 salary, retroactive to March 1, according to town documents.

Devine served as spokesman for Mazi Pilip in her unsuccessful congressional campaign against Tom Suozzi to replace disgraced former Rep. George Santos (R-Nassau/Queens) earlier this year. He previously worked as communications director in North Hempstead under Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and worked in the Oyster Bay communications office from 2009 to 2022 serving under the late-Supervisor John Venditto and Supervisor Joseph Saladino.

Blower became the town’s communications director in January 2020, weeks after Supervisor Donald Clavin was sworn into office. Blower had been the president of Imagemakers Marketing Communications, a Northport-based consulting firm that worked with Republican candidates on Long Island for decades. His company dissolved in 2016, according to state incorporation records. He also served as spokesman for Kate Murray’s unsuccessful run for Nassau County district attorney in 2015.