Nassau Legis. Robert Troiano giving up seat for North Hempstead post

Nassau County Legis. Robert Troiano will resign from his seat to become director of operations for incoming North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth.

Troiano, a Democrat who has represented the 2nd District since 2010, won re-election last month, but will step down on Jan. 2 for the new town role. The position pays $132,000 a year.

Troiano said he hadn't planned on the new position while campaigning for re-election, but began thinking seriously about the idea several weeks after the election.

"I realized there was an opportunity to do even more for my constituents in the executive branch than I could accomplish in the legislature," he said.

County Executive Edward Mangano must call a special election 30 to 60 days after Troiano's departure, according to Thomas Garry, chief counsel to Democratic Elections Commissioner William Biamonte.

Both the Republican and Democratic county parties were still absorbing the news Monday, and there was no known list of candidates for the seat.

Minority leader Kevan Abrahams called Troiano "an outstanding legislator."

"Our loss is North Hempstead's gain," he said.

Bosworth, the Democratic Nassau County legislator who won the race for town supervisor last month, said Troiano has "a great track record of getting things done."

"I understand what Robert brings to this and the great ability he has to do the job that needs to be done," she said.

Bosworth announced three other appointments Monday.

Elizabeth Dvorkin Botwin, now deputy commissioner for administration and planning for New York City, will become town attorney. Cindy Cardinal, Bosworth's legislative assistant, will be her chief of staff, and Aline Khatchadourian, director of finance for the minority caucus in the Nassau County Legislature, will be director of finance for the town.