Lions and tigers and feds, oh my!

Case in Point

Venditto regretting his words?

Longtime Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto stands charged with honest services fraud and conspiracy to commit bribery. Newsday reports that the charges stem from town dealings with formerly prominent Long Island restaurateur Harendra Singh, for whom the town guaranteed loans worth more than $20 million.

Last fall, Venditto ran for a 10th term as supervisor. In an endorsement interview then with Newsday’s editorial board, Venditto declined to comment on the specifics of the Singh contracts. He said political contributions influencing town decision-making “should not be tolerated,” but didn’t see banning people who have business with the town from making political contributions as a pressing matter.

Here’s a clip from the interview, with Venditto on the right and his Democratic challenger, attorney John Mangelli, on the left. Newsday endorsed Mangelli, who lost by 99 votes.

Anne Michaud and Sam Guzik

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Pencil Point

Throwback Thursday #TBT

A May 2016 cartoon from Matt Davies with the caption, “Something stinks in Oyster Bay.”

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Daily Point

Following the signs

The 1,500 lawn signs for the State Senate race in the 8th District were late in arriving — delivered to Nassau County Democratic Party headquarters just Wednesday, less than three weeks before Election Day. But the lateness of the campaign swag wasn’t a big deal. While the battle for control of the State Senate is being bitterly fought in Nassau County, the seat held by one-term incumbent Michael Venditto, a Republican, wasn’t considered in play by state party leaders because of the strength of the family name.

But everything changed on Thursday night as word spread of the imminent indictment of Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto, the father of State Sen. Michael Venditto.

Now Democratic challenger John Brooks, a longtime community activist with a complex plan to reduce property taxes by changing how the state funds education, suddenly has a lot of friends.

The younger Venditto had minimal experience when he was first chosen to run for the Nassau County Legislature in a special election after the death of Peter Schmitt in 2012. He then was tapped to run for the State Senate seat in 2014, when Charles Fuschillo decided not to seek re-election. Joseph Saladino, whose Assembly seat covers part of the Senate district, would have been the likely candidate, but the younger Venditto got the edge because of name recognition.

Now state Democrats are mobilizing to send resources to the district on the theory that angry Republicans will vote against the Venditto name when they see it on the ballot on Nov. 8.

And those 1,500 “Say No to Venditto” signs that Democratic County Chairman Jay Jacobs ordered months ago? They are being hammered into the ground Thursday afternoon. No longer an afterthought.

Rita Ciolli

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Talking Point

The next county executive

Nassau County Executive Edward Managno insists he will stay in office while he defends himself against federal corruption charges. But Republican Party leaders might have other ideas in the coming weeks and months as they strategize about the 2017 election.

Mangano is unlikely to seek a third term next year, so if he left early he could give the GOP a head start by having its nominee run as an incumbent. The county charter says a majority of the Nassau legislature can name a new county executive to complete a term when there is a vacancy.

Nassau GOP leader Joseph Mondello has been looking for a job for former Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray, who lost her bid for district attorney last year. And state Sen. Jack Martins could want the post if he loses his tough race against Democrat Tom Suozzi for Congress. Former legislator Bruce Blakeman is also a contender. But if the GOP didn’t want to commit so fast to its 2017 nominee, Gregory Peterson, former Hempstead Town presiding supervisor, might be persuaded to take on the task temporarily.

Rita Ciolli