Pulling a Rabbit Out of a Hat
Michael Martino 01/04/2006 1:25 pm
Despite much drama over the past few days, the position of presiding officer of the Nassau County Legislature remains filled by Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury), due to a decision by State Supreme Court Judge Roy Mahon about Jacobs’ move to change her voter registration to ‘blank.’ She made the change late Monday in anticipation of an impending ouster engineered by Legislators Roger Corbin (D-Westbury), Lisanne Altmann (D-Great Neck) and Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa).
Corbin’s supporters came out in great numbers, eager to celebrate the election of the first African-American presiding officer in the history of the legislature.
The court decision, announced by Jacobs’ counsel Steve Schlesinger at approximately 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, put the legislature in turmoil. Mahon ruled that the legislature, when it votes on leadership positions, could not confirm any member other than Jacobs as minority leader. The case has been adjourned until Jan. 12.
“I have been a Democrat for 48 years, but I felt that this move [by Corbin and Altmann] would leave eight good Democrats disenfranchised,” says Jacobs. She described her decision to change her party affiliation as “making me feel like a real leader. It shows I will always put my money where my mouth is.”
Corbin’s supporters came out in great numbers, eager to celebrate the election of the first African-American presiding officer in the history of the legislature. After Corbin announced there would be no vote, many in the crowd shouted their displeasure at the news. One attendee said “This is going to hurt Tom Suozzi when he runs for governor.”
“This is going to hurt Tom Suozzi when he runs for governor.”
The scenario laid out by Jacobs’ effort to remain in a power position is complicated and will now result in legal action. According to the legislative charter, both the majority leader and the minority leader cannot be from the same party. With all nine Republicans expected to vote for Altmann and Corbin, Schmitt would cast a lone vote for himself, allowing him to retain his role as minority leader.
However, if the remaining Democrats support Jacobs, she will have more votes than Schmitt, which would result in her becoming the minority leader of the legislature. That would leave Schmitt with no leadership role, something he will not allow.
Schmitt accused Nassau Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs and County Executive Tom Suozzi of orchestrating Jacobs’ party switch. Schmitt produced a letter from the Republican commissioner on the Nassau County Board of Elections, John DeGrace, stating that Jacobs’ enrollment change cannot be in effect until after the next general election. The Democratic commissioner, Eleanor Sciglibaglio, has not yet responded to Schmitt’s request for her position on the situation.
“It is our position that [Jacobs] cannot do that,” Schmitt said at a hastily called news conference in the Republican caucus room that included Corbin and Altmann. “We believe that Tom Suozzi aided and abetted this chicanery.”
Schmitt’s only option would have been to abandon the deal with Corbin and Altmann. Then, if all the Republicans (nine) voted for him and Altmann and Corbin joined them or abstained, Schmitt would be voted in as presiding officer. “But that is not what the people of the County wanted,” he says. “There should be a Democratic presiding officer, democratic committee chairs. The democrats should be in charge.”
If he were to become presiding officer, Schmitt describes his position as a would-be “prescription for disaster.”
“This is a sham, an outrage,” Corbin says. “Judy is not going to win. Who’s the traitor here?”
“I came here today to work, to be a part of good government,” says Altmann. “I resent the political circus, and have no intention on playing this in court and wasting the taxpayers’ money. Judy has always been a Democrat. She lost power, so suck it up, and let’s get back to work.”
The day ended with Jacobs and eight Democratic legislators in an almost-empty chamber, declaring the meeting in recess because no quorum existed since the Republicans, plus Altmann and Corbin refused to take part in any more business.
Jacobs remains confused at the reasons for the takeover attempt. “I don’t have a crystal ball,” she says. “I don’t know what they are unhappy about. We worked hard to become a majority, and all 10 of us should stick together. Who are we to give it all away?”
Posted Monday, January 9, 2006
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