January 9, 2009
Previous Coverage: Nassau Legislature
Nassau pol spared by Jacobs
The Nassau County Legislature's presiding officer, Judy Jacobs, seriously weighed punishing a lawmaker who challenged her leadership by removing him as head of the public-safety committee, but decided against it, aides said yesterday.
Nassau spat getting expensive
Nassau's nasty legislative leadership fight, officially settled more than two months ago, is generating new political heat as the county totes up the battle's legal bills - which could cost taxpayers more than $160,000.
Nassau pols parry in brief meeting
The Nassau County Legislature gathered for its first work session yesterday since the end of a leadership fight that had kept lawmakers from meeting since Jan. 3.
Makeover in Nassau legislature
After weeks of court battles, back-biting, deadlock and growing public frustration, the Nassau County Legislature returned to work yesterday - but not before dissident Democrat lawmakers Roger Corbin and Lisanne Altmann were slapped on the wrists for their recent rebellion.
Questions persist over vote changes
There's no doubt that dissident Nassau Democrats Roger Corbin of Westbury and Lisanne Altmann of Great Neck dropped their coalition with county Republicans and voted with their party colleagues to re-elect Judy Jacobs presiding officer of the county legislature.
In Nassau, action delayed
Since the small nonprofit agency won a $37,500 grant from the Nassau County Youth Board in October, counselors there have taught local children how to prevent violence and deal with bullying.
Jacobs: No promises
Nassau Legis. Judy Jacobs may have regained the support she needed from two dissident Democrats, but the newly re-elected presiding officer said yesterday she has not decided whether to allow the straying legislators to retain their own posts.
Legislature fight spills over to elections post
Dissident Nassau Democrats Roger Corbin and Lisanne Altmann yesterday attempted to block their legislative colleagues from naming William Biamonte, the Democrats' chief of staff, as the party's county elections commissioner.
Suozzi: Leadership beef 'petty'
Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi yesterday jumped into the monthlong leadership stalemate in the county legislature, publicly telling lawmakers to look past their "petty, personal and political" interests, and engaging lawmakers in informal negotiations outside county offices in Mineola.
'Fixed' for a fight
What started as breakfast-meeting teasing between two party leaders escalated into accusations that the Nassau Conservative Party chairman had "fixed" a State Supreme Court case that overturned a vote in the county legislature naming a Republican as presiding officer.
Schmitt election rejected
The seemingly never-ending story of the Nassau County Legislature's leadership battle was extended into next week yesterday by a state judge who tossed out the vote that made Republican Peter Schmitt presiding officer.
An assertive political player
When Peter Schmitt was voted presiding officer of the Nassau Legislature, he pledged to be an open-minded, tolerant leader. "The people of Nassau County expected no less than to have every voice heard and every issue debated," the Massapequa Republican said.
Joye Brown: In Nassau, no work, all pay
The Nassau County Legislature has given us a month of nothing.
Cool front amid turmoil
As Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi coped with a scandal in his administration two years ago, he offered his unfiltered opinion of the man waging daily attacks on him: Legislative Minority Leader Peter Schmitt.
Party split dooms Dems
In a dramatic turn of events, Republican Peter Schmitt was elected presiding officer of the Nassau County Legislature yesterday with nine Republican votes when the 10-member Democrat majority could not agree on a candidate.
Jacobs' party ruling delayed
A state court judge postponed the case involving the party affiliation of embattled Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs Friday, after supporters of dissident Democrat Roger Corbin filed a motion calling Jacobs' attempt to defect from the Democratic Party a "sham."
Schmitt known for tough talk
He has been called Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi's main political nemesis, and Wednesday, Massapequa Republican Peter Schmitt became the presiding officer of the 19-member Nassau County Legislature.
