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.

Battle for Hillary's Senate Seat Begins

Frankly I'm not putting much stock in the notion of Hillary Clinton becoming Secretary of State, but if indeed she winds up in that position, who her successor in New York might be is already under speculation.

Hillary Rodham Clinton’s Senate seat is still warm — and occupied — but the first notes are already sounding in the game of musical chairs to succeed her.

If President-elect Barack Obama does select her to be Secretary of State, it would further scramble the power structure in New York, which was upended earlier this year by Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s premature departure amid a prostitution scandal.

Just the names of potential successors — a Kennedy and Cuomo among them — conjure images of Democratic royalty.

Yes, just what we need: A choice of Andrew "Evil Eyes" Cuomo or the former junkie and environmental nutcase RFK Jr.

There has to be some fresh blood, no?

Some are already pushing for Buffalo-area congressman Brian Higgins. Tom Suozzi’s name has come up, too. He’s the Long Island politician who made a name for himself railing against New York’s notoriously high property taxes, battled Spitzer for the 2006 gubernatorial nomination then was appointed by Spitzer to chair a tax-cap commission.

In a year where Barack Obama broke down racial barriers, either Higgins or Suozzi would be a nod to one of the traditional pillars of New York Democrats: white Catholics.

Both Suozzi and Higgins are virtual no-names, although Suozzi is relatively popular on Long Island.

Then they get to the flotsam and jetsam of the NY congressional contingent, and it's a regular hack-o-rama.

Plenty of other New York members of Congress are in the early mix as well: Nita Lowey, who was in line to become a senator until Clinton moved in; Steve Israel, a moderate from Long Island; New York City’s Carolyn Maloney or Jerrold Nadler, both veteran lawmakers; or Kirsten Gillibrand, a relatively new upstate politician but one who has won Republican votes and raised scads of money.

I could see it possibly being Lowey, who probably would have won the seat in 2000 until Hillary barged in and took over. She played the good soldier and maybe should be rewarded?

Nadler? Good grief. Would he be able to cope with the weighty issues in the Senate, such as their substandard dining accommodations?

Since Obama may be intent on getting the Clinton band back together, why not just have her husband, The Clenis, finish out her term?