Blakeman keeps future plans to himself
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is widely expected to run for a second term this year but his statements feed speculation. Credit: Newsday/Steve Pfost
More than three years after unseating Democratic Nassau County Executive Laura Curran in a big upset election, her GOP successor Bruce Blakeman, now 69, has yet to firmly clarify his ambitions for the years ahead.
Blakeman is widely expected to be on the ballot for a second term in November. But his statements about his possible future feed speculation.
His government spokesman, Chris Boyle, said via text on Wednesday that Blakeman "is intending to run for reelection," and to continue to serve the county, and to keep it "the best place to live in New York State."
Some fellow Long Island Republicans say the use of the word "intending" seems designed to provide wiggle room. So much of Blakeman’s self-generated publicity has been tied to his continuous public praise of President Donald Trump that more than a few people in the political world expected that Blakeman would have landed by now in the new administration.
Introducing Blakeman at a Bronx campaign rally in May, Trump said: "This guy is from central casting. If I’m doing a movie of a politician, this is the guy I have playing (one)." The light banter costs neither man.
If Blakeman sought to be Israel ambassador or Mideast envoy, he got neither. Trump's final term, however, is still young. Meanwhile, the inside-the-GOP speculation has turned anew to whether Blakeman would mount a challenge for governor, a job that will be on the ballot next year. At the moment, Hudson Valley Rep. Michael Lawler generates more buzz. But it might be meaningful that Nassau and Suffolk counties have an outsize share of the weighted vote in state nominations.
Said Boyle: "County Executive Blakeman does not speculate about the future as he wants to keep his eyes on the ball and devote all his time to the residents of Nassau County." Someone who might seek greener pastures for himself would be well advised to say that.
As to that, Legis. Seth Koslow, the Democrat looking to unseat Blakeman in the fall, has been stepping up appearances around the county looking to argue the case that the incumbent isn’t fulfilling promises or getting the job done. Koslow has to be considered the underdog in the race who undoubtedly wants to whip up the kind of voter revolt at the "in" party that the devotedly partisan Blakeman rode into office in 2021.
If Koslow, 42, and county Democrats are hungry enough and have their way, less attention will be paid to where Blakeman wants to be than to what really lies in store for the county, its workforce and its institutions.
Among the obvious attacks to come on the incumbent’s record: Rather than reform property tax assessments, as he promised, he has kept them frozen while collecting contributions from tax cert attorneys who benefit from the system. In announcing his run on Jan. 8, Koslow said: "Nassau County families are being squeezed while their tax dollars are wasted on frivolous lawsuits, inflated salaries, and self-serving political promotions. I’m running to restore trust, eliminate waste, and make our county more affordable for everyone." One of those costly uses of county funds recently included a top-dollar losing effort to defend the GOP-drawn legislative district map successfully challenged on behalf of minority communities.
Whoever’s got the upper hand, defining Blakeman's record on the job will be important to parse as the race heats up. Boyle said Blakeman "looks forward to a spirited debate on the issues."
Columnist Dan Janison's opinions are his own.