Following a Friday screening with three candidates for the GOP county executive nomination, County Chairman John Jay LaValle said on Saturday morning that the party is hoping have a decision made by "early next week."
Meeting at the party's headquarters in Holtsville, LaValle said three candidates screened for the position were County Treasurer Angie Carpenter, Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick, R-St. James, and Randy Altschuler, a St. James resident and businessman who lost a close bid for Congress last fall.
"We're really not at the point of a final decision quite yet," LaValle said. "We're going through the final maneuvers and buttoning up some loose ends. We're a couple of days away I'm sure."
The names "Carpenter" and "Fitzpatrick" have long been thrown about as potential GOP candidates to fill the seat currently occupied by County Executive Steve Levy, who is not seeking re-election following an investigation into his campaign fundraising.
Carpenter was the at the end of March, and Fitzpatrick as well. The field has narrowed in recent weeks asand said they would stay in their current positions.
According to the party chairman, Altschuler "immediately contacted party leaders" after Flanagan announced at the end of April he would not seek the county executive seat. LaValle stated that Altschuler had "been in the mix since day one," but waited until Flanagan withdrew his name to step into the ring.
Chris Maloney, Altschuler's campaign manager during his run to unseat Rep. Tim Bishop, D-Southampton, in the 2010 congressional race, said Altschuler had screened with the Suffolk County Conservative Party last week, though forwarded questions regarding Friday's meeting with the GOP to LaValle.
Conservative Party Chairman Ed Walsh said Altschuler, Carpenter, and Fitzpatrick have all screened with his party, as have and the Democrat's choice for the position, Babylon Supervisor Steve Bellone, who .
Legislature: Animal Buyers Must Clear Abuse Registry to Buy Pets
After creating an animal abuse registry last year, the Suffolk County Legislature unanimously passed a bill which will require pet shops, animal shelters, and breeders to cross-check the registry with prospective owners to ensure they are not selling the animals to convicted animal abusers.
Sponsored by Legislator Jon Cooper, D-Lloyd Harbor, the bill will enforce a fine of $500 for the first infraction, $1,000 for the second, and $1,500 for subsequent offenses.
Said Cooper: “This will go a long way towards keeping new victims out of the hands of disturbed individuals who derive pleasure from the suffering of innocent animals.”
