EDITORIAL: Maragos needs to keep his office nonpartisan

When Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos was campaigning for his job, the long-shot promised to solve the county's assessment problems in a year. The devilish task must have been completed in five months, because this year Maragos wants to run for the U.S. Senate.

That's his prerogative, but he shouldn't use county workers to help him do it. Maragos' businessman-comes-to-government persona can mean a refreshing cold eye on how things get done. And on what can't be done in a nonpartisan office.

Maragos' press officer, Jostyn Hernandez, last week sent out a release announcing his boss' endorsement for Senate by the Queens GOP. While not on official letterhead and with a non-county cell phone number to contact Hernandez, the release did go to all of those on the comptroller's county e-mail list. Hernandez is also quoted in upstate news accounts about the campaign.

Hernandez explained that he is working as a volunteer and not on county time. Maragos later said, however, he would hire a campaign press aide this week. Meanwhile, Maragos just lost a highly regarded top deputy for audits. A nonpartisan, professional comptroller's office is essential to helping the county meet its huge fiscal challenges. hN