Curran rolls out anti-patronage plans; Maragos backs her possible replacement

Noah Manskar
Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos endorses George Siberon, one of four Democrats running to replace Laura Curran in Nassau's 5th Legislative District. (Photo courtesy of George Maragos for Nassau County Executive)

Democratic Nassau County executive candidate Laura Curran proposed a package of anti-patronage measures last Thursday, just before one of her opponents backed a candidate for her county Legislature seat.

Curran, a county legislator from Baldwin, said she would ban appointed county officials from leading political parties or clubs and take other steps to remove politics from hiring processes if elected.

The proposals would “end the decades-old practice” of doling out jobs to political allies that wastes taxpayer money, Curran said.

“If we are truly going to make our government work for the people again, we need to be hiring the best and brightest, and stop handing out cushy jobs to the politically connected at the expense of Nassau taxpayers,” Curran said in a statement.

Her package also includes opening hiring for summer, seasonal and part-time jobs to all county residents; hiring for all positions based on merit; and enforcing existing ethics rules banning county employees from supervising relatives and limiting gifts to county officials.

Brian Nevin, a spokesman for the current Republican county executive, Edward Mangano, said his administration has made progress on several issues with 123 fewer appointed positions than the previous administration.

“Political party affiliation is never considered in the employment process,” Nevin said in a statement.

Curran announced her plans less than two hours before county Comptroller George Maragos, another Democrat running for county executive, endorsed George Siberon in a four-way primary for Curran’s seat in the 5th Legislative District.

Siberon is the executive director of the Hempstead Civic Association and previously served as executive director of the Nassau County Youth Board under then-County Executive Tom Suozzi, the last Democrat to hold the job.

He is the latest addition to Maragos’ “independent” ticket of candidates forcing Democratic primaries for county offices.

Mr. Siberon is a person of unquestionable integrity and independence whose only interest is to honorably serve the community,” Maragos said in a statement.

As Newsday reported last week, Siberon faces a primary against Freeport school board Vice President Anthony Miller; Baldwin activist Jack McCloy; and Village of Freeport Trustee Debra Mulé, who has the backing of the Nassau County Democratic Committee.

Curran’s campaign declined to comment on Maragos’ endorsement of Siberon.

Siberon joins Carl DeHaney, who is challenging Dean Bennett for county clerk in a Democratic primary, on Maragos’ ticket.

Curran, who has been endorsed by the Nassau Democratic Committee, is facing Maragos and state Assemblyman Charles Lavine for the chance to run against former state Sen. Jack Martins, the GOP’s nominee for county executive.

Martins is the Nassau Republican Committee’s choice to replace Mangano, a Republican who pleaded not guilty in October to federal corruption charges.

Also last Thursday, Curran was endorsed by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 25, Long Island’s electricians union.

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