Rick Brand

Rick Brand 7/13/13 Brand: Value of Suffolk's ShotSpotter system questioned

ShotSpotter -- the high-tech system for pinpointing gunfire -- may have missed the mark in ... Read more »

Rick Brand 7/6/13 Brand: Democrats now outnumber GOP in Suffolk

The late Republican Assembly Speaker Perry Duryea, once a would-be governor, must be rolling over ... Read more »

Rick Brand 6/29/13 Brand: Suffolk GOP boss sees party comeback

Suffolk Republican chairman John Jay LaValle says he sees a GOP comeback this year. ... Read more »

Rick Brand 6/28/13 Brand: Carpenter a shoo-in for 3rd term as treasurer

Suffolk County Treasurer Angie Carpenter is virtually guaranteed election in November because the Republican has ... Read more »

Rick Brand 6/15/13 Brand: Former allies face off in town clerk race

North Hempstead Town Clerk Leslie Gross recalled that when she held a fundraiser on Super ... Read more »

Rick Brand 6/8/13 Brand: Montano faces educator in primary

Suffolk Legis. Rick Montano may have no Republican opponent this year, but the veteran Brentwood ... Read more »

Rick Brand 6/1/13 Brand: Pol wants 'lost' laws enforced

Like a shepherd in search of a lost sheep, Suffolk Legis. Louis D'Amaro lately has ... Read more »

Rick Brand 5/25/13 LI may yet get piece of new gambling action

Call it the $174 million bet. ... Read more »

Rick Brand 5/18/13 Brand: Vecchio might not make it onto Nov. ballot

The good news for 34-year Smithtown Supervisor Patrick Vecchio is that he won the tense ... Read more »

Rick Brand 5/11/13 Brand: Jacobs tries to avert comptroller primary

Nassau Democratic Party chairman Jay Jacobs went on a delicate political mission last week in ... Read more »

Rick Brand 5/4/13 Brand: LI pols weigh in on Cuomo election reform idea

It's called the Third Party Club, and its monthly meetings often resemble a political version ... Read more »

Rick Brand 4/27/13 Brand: Sheriff calls plan to add jail space misguided

Suffolk County has opened a new, state-mandated jail costing $185 million, and is facing the ... Read more »

Rick Brand 4/20/13 Brand: Kepert faces battle to keep Brookhaven seat

Regina Seltzer never won a seat in Congress, but she caused the ouster of incumbent ... Read more »

Rick Brand 4/6/13 Brand: Suffolk puts rules on sewer grants, loans

After 17 months of deliberations, Suffolk County officials last week made the troublesome decisions on ... Read more »

Rick Brand 3/30/13 Brand: Dems want election delayed

After waging two special election campaigns before spring even arrived, Suffolk Democratic chairman Richard Schaffer ... Read more »

Rick Brand 3/23/13 Brand: Kaiman discusses why he's not in the race

North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman acknowledged that there was lot of interest in him running ... Read more »

Rick Brand 3/16/13 Brand: Flanagan may run for Huntington supervisor

After 27 years as an Albany lawmaker, state Sen. John Flanagan may be looking to ... Read more »

Rick Brand 3/2/13 Brand: Blizzard turns town race into money battle

Last month's blizzard has turned Tuesday's election for Brookhaven highway superintendent into a big bucks ... Read more »

Rick Brand 2/23/13 Brand: Smithtown supervisor primary race heats up

Call it the row in Smithtown. ... Read more »

Rick Brand 2/16/13 Brand: Contested primaries can give decisive edge

Nassau Republican chairman Joe Mondello is chortling over the prospect of an expensive Democratic county ... Read more »

Rick Brand 2/2/13 Brand: Islip GOP infighting 'not good' for party

The public battle over patronage in Islip could weaken the 5-0 GOP-Conservative Town Board majority ... Read more »

Rick Brand 1/26/13 Brand: Bellone hurt his chances on key Foley vote

Members of Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone's administration might have realized it had problems when ... Read more »

Rick Brand 1/19/13 Brand: Suozzi says he won't run, but who knows?

There was a time when you couldn't stop Tom Suozzi from running for office. ... Read more »

Rick Brand 1/12/13 Brand: Petrone outmaneuvered in stunning fashion

After nearly two decades as Huntington Town supervisor, Frank Petrone's grip on town government slipped ... Read more »

Rick Brand 1/5/13 Brand: Major party switch in race for highway post

Brookhaven Town Board member Kathleen Walsh, who has long given her own Republican Party agita, ... Read more »

Rick Brand 12/15/12 Brand: Gordon Heights winner sees mandate for change

Joyce Bourne, running to bring down high taxes in the Gordon Heights Fire District, last ... Read more »

Rick Brand 12/8/12 Brand: NY's Electoral College to cast crucial vote

It will be six weeks since Election Day, but the re-election of President Barack Obama ... Read more »

Rick Brand 11/24/12 Brand: Day care funding cuts hit home hard

Samantha Orellana, a widowed mother of a 2- and a 3-year-old, says she works two ... Read more »

Rick Brand 11/17/12 Brand: Suffolk can't flex muscle on Red Bull issue

Late last month, lobbyist Christopher Hahn and others working for energy drink maker Red Bull ... Read more »

Rick Brand 11/10/12 Brand: 3rd Assembly District race heads to recount

His campaign finance filings show that he spent virtually no money. ... Read more »

Rick Brand 10/27/12 Brand: Smithtown board member joins GOP

It was a small step for Smithtown's town board member Robert Creighton. But it may ... Read more »

Rick Brand 10/20/12 Brand: Bellone mum on relocation of sex offenders

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone is planning a New Year's surprise: He's not telling anyone ... Read more »

Long Island 10/13/12 Outcry over new Suffolk traffic bureau

The ire of Suffolk lawmakers began to bubble when Bellone administration aides circulated a 3-foot-by-4-foot ... Read more »

Rick Brand 10/6/12 Brand: Sag Harbor sees savings in offer

Suffolk sheriffs may be on the verge of losing their role patrolling the county's two ... Read more »

Rick Brand 9/29/12 Brand: Suffolk planner quits so chair stays

When the Suffolk County Planning Commission earlier this month convened in Islip Town, David Calone, ... Read more »

Rick Brand 9/22/12 Brand: Sides gird for sanitation district vote

It came down to a simple resolution that drew no debate and took maybe two ... Read more »

Rick Brand 9/8/12 Brand: Wide-open race in 7th Assembly District

At the start of the election season, the race for the 7th Assembly District looked ... Read more »

Rick Brand 9/1/12 Brand: Suffolk officials still don't have to pay

When Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone delivered his maiden state of the county message in ... Read more »

Rick Brand 8/25/12 Brand: GOP embraces Romaine's bid

Suffolk Legis. Edward Romaine last week revved up the long-suffering, nearly 400-strong party faithful at ... Read more »

Rick Brand 8/18/12 Presidential race is X-factor in Brookhaven

With Mark Lesko's impending exit, Brookhaven's top elected job is up for grabs, but the ... Read more »

Rick Brand 7/21/12 Brand: A 3-man bid for LIPA board elections

Electoral gadfly Greg Fischer relishes making mischief at the ballot box. ... Read more »

Rick Brand 7/14/12 Brand: Bellone is no Levy on immigration

For much of the past decade, when Steve Levy was Suffolk County executive, any mention ... Read more »

Rick Brand 7/7/12 Brand: TWA memorial headed to museum

A reminder of one of Long Island's most tragic events is about to find a ... Read more »

Rick Brand 6/30/12 Brand: Suffolk parcel holds up farm tax break list

Last week, a resolution was put before the Suffolk Legislature to add 21 farms, totaling ... Read more »

Rick Brand 6/16/12 Brand: Horsley temporarily in Lindsay's role

Suffolk Legis. Wayne Horsley describes himself simply as "a friend of Bill." ... Read more »

Rick Brand 6/9/12 Brand: Spota files petition on term limits

Suffolk's District Attorney, Thomas Spota, is looking to throw out the county's term limit law ... Read more »

Rick Brand 6/2/12 Brand: Rouse can't touch $300G war chest

Brookhaven's Democratic highway superintendent, John Rouse, may be running on the Republican line for Suffolk ... Read more »

Rick Brand 5/26/12 Brand: Bellone's IDA pick criticized

For more than a decade, Anthony Manetta has been well-known locally as a political fundraiser ... Read more »

Rick Brand 5/26/12 Brand: Jay Jacobs quits post, not politics

Jay Jacobs may have announced last week he is stepping down as New York's Democratic ... Read more »

Rick Brand 5/19/12 Farmingdale home rule plan to test waters

At the very end of its meeting last week, the Farmingdale Village Board without fanfare ... Read more »

Rick Brand 5/19/12 Montano-Schaffer rift has Suffolk Dems uneasy

Lately, Suffolk Legis. Ricardo Montano and Suffolk Democratic chairman Richard Schaffer are not seeing eye ... Read more »

Rick Brand 5/12/12 Farmingdale home rule plan to test waters

At the very end of its meeting last week, the Farmingdale Village Board without fanfare ... Read more »

Rick Brand 4/28/12 Brand: Convicted pol making a comeback?

For the first time since his conviction in a political corruption probe in 2003, ex-Suffolk ... Read more »

Rick Brand 4/21/12 Montano-Schaffer rift has Suffolk Dems uneasy

Lately, Suffolk Legis. Ricardo Montano and Suffolk Democratic chairman Richard Schaffer are not seeing eye ... Read more »

Rick Brand 4/14/12 Maragos on Senate run: 'Full speed ahead'

Rick Santorum may have dropped out of the Republican presidential race, but Nassau Comptroller George ... Read more »

Rick Brand 4/7/12 New home sought for Vanderbilt's dinosaurs

The dinosaurs at Suffolk's Vanderbilt Museum and planetarium may soon become extinct -- or at ... Read more »

Rick Brand 3/31/12 Brand: Dems vow fair redistricting

When the Suffolk County Legislature first underwent redistricting in 1971, the lines for the 18-member ... Read more »

Rick Brand 3/24/12 Brand: Labate undeterred by new district lines

Steve Labate is suddenly a man without a district. ... Read more »

Rick Brand 3/17/12 Brand: Suffolk wants titles for polluted sites

It's Suffolk County's $20 million black hole. ... Read more »

Rick Brand 3/10/12 Brand: Map plan 'flips' King, Israel districts

Call them the bicounty congressmen. ... Read more »

Rick Brand 3/3/12 Brand: Bellone's chief deputy has mission

Regina Calcaterra says her work on corporate pension fraud cases was the perfect training for ... Read more »

Rick Brand 2/25/12 Former exec Levy starts consulting biz

Former Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy is hanging out his shingle -- not to practice ... Read more »

Rick Brand 2/11/12 GOP's Steve Labate ready to take on Israel

When tea party activist Steve Labate first tried to run for Congress two years ago, ... Read more »

Rick Brand 2/4/12 Talk about ex-Suffolk GOP boss John Powell

Brookhaven Town Hall is buzzing with speculation about a comeback by ex-Suffolk GOP chairman John ... Read more »

Rick Brand 1/21/12 Maragos seeking GOP nod for U.S. Senate

Since last spring, Nassau Comptroller George Maragos has been quietly spending many nights and weekends ... Read more »

Rick Brand 1/14/12 Activist continues challenge of GOP methods

Martin Dekom sees himself as a good conservative Republican, who has organized local GOP clubs ... Read more »

Rick Brand 1/7/12 Bellone's fiscal chief could prove costly

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone's hiring of veteran budget guru Fred Pollert has given his ... Read more »

Rick Brand 12/31/11 Nursing home's future now up to Bellone

It started a century ago as the county's almshouse in Yaphank for Suffolk's sick and ... Read more »

Rick Brand 12/17/11 Levy lashes out at former ally Schaffer

He may only have two weeks left on the job, but Suffolk County Executive Steve ... Read more »

Rick Brand 12/10/11 Brand: MTA payroll tax still an issue

Counties, like Rodney Dangerfield, seem to get no respect. ... Read more »

Rick Brand 12/3/11 Suffolk executive: 'A tale of two Steves'

Only hours before the name of Steve Bellone's new top aide surfaced last week, the ... Read more »

Rick Brand 11/19/11 Brand: Levy campaign refunds unclaimed

Some Suffolk County executive aides have dubbed it the "Steve Levy Christmas Club." ... Read more »

Rick Brand 11/12/11 Schaffer basks in Bellone's win, mulls run

Suffolk County Democratic chairman Richard Schaffer knows more than most about getting out the vote ... Read more »

Rick Brand 11/5/11 Parties prepare to get out the vote

They call it the "ground game." ... Read more »

Rick Brand 10/29/11 Judicial candidate in tough spot on ballot

The political odd couple of former New York Mayor Ed Koch and Rep. Peter King ... Read more »

Rick Brand 10/22/11 Brand: Suffolk exec contenders mum on fiscal mess

Suffolk Treasurer Angie Carpenter last week showed up at the county legislature's budget committee to ... Read more »

Rick Brand 10/15/11 As election nears LI voters in bad mood

With gridlock in Washington over the president's jobs bill and the prospect of massive budget ... Read more »

Rick Brand 10/8/11 Brand: Pol offers alternative to Levy layoffs

In a budget crisis in which Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy is looking to lay ... Read more »

Rick Brand 10/1/11 Suffolk Dems riding on Cuomo's popularity

As Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo continues to soar in the polls, Suffolk Democrats are looking ... Read more »

Rick Brand 9/25/11 On the blog

Suffolk Police Commissioner Richard Dormer may be leaving at year's end, but his daughter Bridget ... Read more »

Rick Brand 9/17/11 Suffolk Conservative seeks judgeships

Until last week, Nassau Republican chairman Joseph Mondello was expecting to name eight of 10 ... Read more »

Rick Brand 9/10/11 Suffolk water agency courts Nassau village

It hasn't made headlines, but the Suffolk County Water Authority has held behind-the-scenes talks and ... Read more »

Rick Brand 8/20/11 Brand: Nassau's dilemma after FIT ruling

North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman last week struck a blow for local governments statewide when ... Read more »

Rick Brand 8/13/11 Suffolk ditches storm-drain filter project

A pilot project to help protect Suffolk's waterways and underground water supply with a new ... Read more »

Rick Brand 8/6/11 Dems see opportunity in Mangano woes

His re-election campaign may be two years away, but Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano's budget ... Read more »

Rick Brand 7/30/11 Suffolk home-auction residency rule ripped

Suffolk County owns a boarded up ranch house in Mastic Beach with a two-car garage ... Read more »

Rick Brand 7/23/11 Brand: Levy, critics debate land preservation

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy earlier this month touted his record of preserving open space ... Read more »

Rick Brand 7/16/11 Brand: Levy looks ahead to life after office

Move over, Empire Center for New York State Policy. Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy wants ... Read more »

Rick Brand 7/9/11 Brand: Suffolk exec race begin ad blitz

Suffolk Republican Treasurer Angie Carpenter's first radio ad for county executive is up and running, ... Read more »

Rick Brand 7/2/11 His persistence on East End buses pays off

Call Suffolk Legis. Jay Schneiderman the little bus that could. ... Read more »

Rick Brand 6/25/11 Brand: LI planning council dealt fatal blow, Levy says

After 46 years, regional planning on Long Island is near death. ... Read more »

Rick Brand 6/18/11 Suffolk working on sober homes cleanup

For nearly a decade, Suffolk has tried to rein in unregulated sober homes through legislation ... Read more »

Other Columnists 6/11/11 Brookhaven GOP snubs three-term pol

When Brookhaven Republicans denied three-term GOP town board member Kathy Walsh renomination last week, it ... Read more »

Rick Brand 5/28/11 GOP's Carpenter didn't let 'no' defeat her

When Suffolk Treasurer Angie Carpenter officially announced her county executive candidacy at a shuttered West ... Read more »

Rick Brand 5/21/11 Ripples at Suffolk Democrats' convention

It was the only clash in a kumbaya Suffolk Democratic convention. ... Read more »

Rick Brand 5/14/11 Brand: Suffolk needs transparency, not puffery

Early this year, John Seaman, head of the group that spearheaded the push to create ... Read more »

Rick Brand 5/7/11 LaValle: Suffolk GOP's Job, or Moses?

To some, Suffolk Republican chairman John Jay Lavalle is the political version of Job -- ... Read more »

Rick Brand 4/23/11 Islip GOP abuzz with talk of comeback

With its leaky roof patched and drab wood walls spruced up with fresh paint, the ... Read more »

Rick Brand 4/16/11 Sizing up Carpenter's bid for county exec

Unlike a half-dozen potential GOP contenders who have been hemming and hawing about running for ... Read more »

Rick Brand 4/9/11 Lazio casts glances at Suffolk's big race

Rick Lazio is back. And he's testing the waters for a possible run for county ... Read more »