Maragos taps Carl DeHaney for county clerk on his ticket

Stephen Romano

Nassau Democratic county executive candidate George Maragos announced on Thursday that Carl DeHaney Jr. will run for county clerk on his ticket and a comptroller candidate who will be named later, creating the possibility of primary elections for all three positions.

DeHaney, whom Maragos introduced on Thursday at a news conference, is on the Board of Commissioners in the Town of Hempstead’s Sanitary District 2 and also works as a community service representative in the county’s human services department.

Maragos, who switched parties in September to run for county executive, said he is in the process of vetting comptroller candidates.

“I am delighted to join with Carl DeHaney to bring about real change in Nassau County and give government back to the people where it belongs,” Maragos said.

The announcement comes three days after Nassau County Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs sent a letter to county Democrats saying Maragos was “manipulative” and duplicitous” and rejected his argument that the party had ignored the concerns of people of color.

In a statement Monday afternoon, Maragos called for Jacobs’ resignation, calling the letter “misleading” and standing by his claims that the Democratic leadership is out of touch with racial minority communities.

In January, Nassau County Democrats backed county Legislator Laura Curran (D-Baldwin) for county executive and Long Beach City Manager Jack Schnirman for comptroller.

State Assemblyman Charles Lavine is also running for county executive.

The Democrats earlier this month tapped Dean Bennett, a businessman and former county official, for county clerk.

DeHaney, of Roosevelt, said if elected, he plans to address community outreach, high fees in the clerk’s office and letting residents know what the clerk does.

“I decided to run for county clerk because we need a strong leader who can stand up for the residents of Nassau County against terribly high fees being imposed on anyone needing any minor service from the clerk’s office,” DeHaney said.

Maragos said he will financially support DeHaney and the candidate he picks to run for comptroller as much as he possibly can but expects them to run their own campaign.

He said adding candidates to his ticket will not change his strategy but will allow a further outreach in the community.

Nassau County Republicans have not yet named a candidate for county executive — five months before the Democratic primary in September.

Edward Mangano, the current county executive who is facing federal corruption charges, has not said whether he will run for a third term.

Maureen O’Connell, the sitting Republican clerk, said she plans to run for re-election.

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