Jack Martins spurns Edward Mangano’s offer of budget briefing

Although Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano offered to brief both candidates for his job about his proposed 2018 budget, Republican Jack Martins last week said he had no need to meet with Mangano, who is not running for re-election as he fights federal corruption charges.

“I was the first person to call for his resignation and this budget is an unfortunate byproduct of his staying on,” Martins, a former state senator and Mineola mayor, said in a news release.

“Whatever budget is passed I know I will have to restructure it when I am elected. I have been clear that this county needs a complete fiscal overhaul, and that balancing the budget on the backs of middle class families by raising fees is not the answer,” Martins said.

Mangano, whose proposed $2.99 billion budget includes $60 million in fee increases, called the invitation a “simple courtesy. Unfortunately, candidate Jack Martins chose to politicize the offer. Perhaps he’s a person that believes he knows it all. The reality is there is a vast learning curve to administer a $3 billion dollar budget, unlike a small village budget.”

Democratic county executive candidate Laura Curran, who also opposes the proposed fee increases, already was briefed.

“Jack Martins’ political grandstanding and refusal to understand our County’s financial situation is exactly what Nassau County residents are tired of,” she said. “We need a leader in the County Executive’s office, not someone who plays political games with taxpayer money.”

Celeste Hadrick