Lesko finds himself in questionable company

When Mark Lesko ran for town supervisor last March, one of his mailings said, "You can tell a lot about a person by the friends they keep."

Last week, Lesko said he would not interfere with the hiring by Kathy Walsh, his deputy supervisor, of the son of John Powell, ex-con and ex-Suffolk GOP chairman. In his campaign mailing, Lesko had assailed his opponent, Republican town board member Tim Mazzei, for letting Powell "openly attend" his fundraisers.

Among the dozen photos in that mailing was one Lesko might wish to forget: the candidate posing with then Town Clerk Pamela Betheil, a Democrat who faces charges for bilking newlyweds by overcharging for weddings.

- Rick Brand