Nassau County set to appoint new GOP election commissioner ahead of November contest

Nassau County's Board of Elections will have a new Republican-appointed commissioner just weeks before voters cast their ballots for president, Congress and State Legislature. 

Long Beach Republican Committee Chairman James V. Moriarty has been appointed to replace Joseph J. Kearney as Republican election commissioner, effective immediately after Moriarty gains county legislative approval on Sept. 23. 

Moriarty's appointment cleared the legislature's Rules Committee on Monday, with all four Republicans voting in favor and three Democrats abstaining.

Republicans hold a 12-7 majority on the Nassau Legislature and are likely to approve the appointment when it goes to the full 19-member board. 

Early voting will begin Oct. 26. 

Nassau Republican Committee Chairman Joseph Cairo, who recommended Moriarty's appointment, told Newsday on Wednesday "the entire team will stay on" through the November election. 

“This appointment is the culmination of a lifetime of public service in government and politics and I’m honored to be recommended by Chairman Cairo for the position," Moriarty said in a statement. "I’m enthusiastic and looking to dive into the job and working with the members of the Board of Elections to ensure that the November elections are run smoothly, efficiently, and transparently.” 

Kearney said he's stepping down as commissioner and taking on a part-time role to spend more time with his family. 

Moriarty, 71, is the former public information officer for the Town of Oyster Bay and has worked as senior special adviser to former state Sen. Michael Venditto (R-Massapequa). He served as a City of Long Beach councilman from 1991 to 1995 and was director of public affairs to the chairman of the state Senate Transportation Committee from 1982 to 1998.

Cairo said as a Republican leader in Long Beach, once a Democratic stronghold, Moriarty helped elect first-term county legislator Patrick Mullaney (R-Long Beach), who succeeded Denise Ford, a longtime legislator for the district. Ford was a Democrat who caucused with the Republicans. 

Political committee leaders often appoint party loyalists to the Board of Elections. The commissioner position holds a $180,000 salary, according to payroll data from the Nassau comptroller's office. 

Kearney, 81, of Mineola, has worked for the Board of Elections since 2019 and has been Republican commissioner since 2021.

Before that, he was executive director of the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency for about 8 years. He's also a former Hempstead Town councilman. 

"The team will be in place and I'll still be there through the transition," Kearney said. 

By Candice Ferrette

candice.ferrette@newsday.comcandiceferrette

Candice Ferrette covers Nassau County government and politics on Long Island. She has been a reporter at Newsday since 2011.