GOP Wins Big Race in New York

Looks like the Democrats took another one on the chin. A month since election day and the recount on Long Island for Nassau County Executive is over with a virtual unknown Republican toppling incumbent Tom Suozzi.

One day after he trailed by slightly fewer than 400 votes after officials finished counting paper ballots, Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi has conceded to challenger Ed Mangano.

“I called Ed Mangano and congratulated him on his victory as the next county executive in Nassau County, and I offered him every assistance to help in a smooth transition,” Suozzi said at a Mineola press conference.

Mangano, an underdog Republican who was given little chance of winning leading up to Election Day, was able to tap into anti-incumbent sentiment fueled by a recession that has pushed unemployment in Nassau County to 7 percent in October, up from 4.9 percent a year ago. High property taxes also led to Suozzi’s demise, though county government accounts for a small percentage of a homeowner’s tax bill.

Suozzi had traveled the state extensively, pushing for property tax reform. But Suozzi’s property tax campaign also rubbed some Nassau residents the wrong way, as voters argued the two-term county executive was laying the foundation for a statewide run instead of fixing the county’s finances.

Mangano, a county legislator and an attorney for Uniondale law firm Rivkin Radler, will be sworn in as the county’s 8th executive in January.

Suozzi said he will meet with Mangano later today to discuss the transition.

“As far as the government goes, I have no regrets whatsoever,” Suozzi said. The politician touted the county’s stable bond ratings, which were affirmed this week, as evidence county finances improved during his two-term rule.

“The people are not better off today,” Suozzi said, pointing to job losses and housing troubles caused by the nation’s recession as the main reasons. “But Nassau County government is much better than it was eight years ago.”

Of course the people aren't better off, thanks to onerous taxation. But hey, the county has more of their money to spend, so that's good!

Enjoy the private sector, Mr. Suozzi.

For what it's worth, Suozzi was an improvement over the Republican he replaced, but his aspirations for higher offie apparently clouded his judgment and now he's out of work.