Trump pardon recipient with LI ties running for governor

Daily Point

A look inside the governor race filings

Kathy Hochul and Bruce Blakeman have competition.

As Hochul, the Democratic governor, and Blakeman, the Nassau County executive and presumptive Republican gubernatorial nominee, blast each other on social media, at least a dozen more candidates have filed with the New York State Board of Elections to run for governor in November.

And one with Long Island connections has a presidential pardon in his pocket.

James M. Kernan's campaign committee is headquartered in Plainview, according to a Monday filing with the New York State Board of Elections. He was sentenced to 5 years probation, 400 hours of community service and a $250,000 fine in 2010 for employing a three-time convicted felon at his upstate insurance company. In May 2025, Kernan and his wife, Marlene, received full and unconditional pardons from President Donald Trump. The move was ostensibly part of what Trump adviser Ed Martin, who led the pardon process, posted on social media at the time as a "No MAGA left behind" movement.

In an email to The Point, Kernan provided his campaign message, which includes a copy of the Trump pardon and information about his core issue: "the need for a skilled workforce Made in America." Kernan is running a write-in campaign as an independent to provide "better job training for immigrants and the disadvantaged" as per Percy v. Brennan, a 1974 lawsuit in New York brought to improve training and employment for minorities in the New York trades industries.

That doesn't sound much like a MAGA talking point, though.

In his Dec. 9 campaign launch letter, Kernan wrote in a footnote that his pardon restores "full legal standing to enforce the Percy v. Brennan settlement."

The Kernans' company was raided by the FBI in 2006, and they pleaded guilty in 2009. Marlene Kernan was ordered to pay a $182,708 fine and sentenced to 2 years probation.

According to his website, Jim Kernan previously served as justice for the Village of Oriskany in the 1980s and was later appointed a judge of the Utica City Court.

A few Long Islanders round out the dramatis personae of the gubernatorial election, and while most of these minor characters have little chance against the rich and connected campaign machines of the two major political parties, they are each hoping to gain some exposure for their causes and perhaps a spot on the ballot.

Jean H. Anglade, Elmont: Anglade announced his campaign in a series of Instagram Reels outside a Bolla Market. As he lists his platform of lowering the cost of living in one Reel, he is drowned out by a passing motorcycle.

Patrick J. Hahn, Center Moriches: Hahn says he is not a politician, even though he previously ran for U.S. Senate twice. His platform includes creating living wage jobs and protecting the Second Amendment.

Brian Leary, Farmingville: Leary's campaign slogan is utopian: "Join by my side and we will lead New York into paradise and build a better future for our children." Of donations, he says, "Remember — I do not want your money ..."

Marvin Suber Williams, Garden City: Williams, who holds a PhD in philosophy, biblical studies from Vanderbilt University, has "authored acclaimed works on ethics and institutional transformation." He is running to enhance economic opportunities, community safety and public trust.

With a list of characters this deep, November's election drama is sure to be a blockbuster.

— Mark Nolan mark.nolan@newsday.com

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Final Point

Kuhn, now Islip Town Board member, takes leave from town GOP committee

DawnMarie Kuhn, Islip's newest town board member, is taking a leave of absence from her role as vice chairwoman of the town's GOP committee, multiple sources confirmed to The Point.

The move came as the Islip Town Board last month chose to leave in place an ethics law that prohibits town officials from also holding political leadership positions. The law would have made it a misdemeanor for Kuhn to serve as both a town board member and vice chair of the town committee.

Kuhn's leave of absence means she is not serving in the role and would not be able to take over if the chair — Assemb. Doug Smith — were to leave his position. But the leave would allow her to return to her vice chair position if and when she is no longer serving on the town board.

Neither Kuhn nor Smith receive a stipend or pay for their work on Islip's party committee.

The leave of absence, however, begged the question as to why Kuhn didn't fully resign. Sources told The Point that that decision comes down to the ongoing politics in Islip. Smith and Kuhn took their spots after internal fights in the party, leading to the leadership transition from former chair William Garbarino to Smith. With Kuhn taking a leave of absence, she cannot fill any of the duties of a vice chair — but the vacancy is not considered one that must be filled. If she had resigned, the spot would have to be filled — and that could have resulted in what one source called a "hostile" vice chair.

Making the situation more complicated, Smith himself has noted that he is interested in potentially running for Islip Town supervisor in 2027 — and has said he'd step down as town chairman if elected. That could leave the party in need of complete new leadership.

Kuhn participated in her first Islip Town Board meeting earlier this month. It was a 15-minute organizational meeting also attended by a host of other Suffolk County elected officials, including Smith and Suffolk County Legis. Anthony Piccirillo, who just hours earlier was sworn in as the legislature's presiding officer, with Kuhn at his side. Kuhn continues to serve as Piccirillo's chief of staff. 

— Randi F. Marshall randi.marshall@newsday.com

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