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March 26, 2009 | 10:33 AM
It would be hard for us to overstate the importance of Tuesday's special election in Brookhaven. The township is at a fiscal crossroads, as are most municipalities across the country. Let's face it, there is not going to be as much funding available in the months and years to come. The economy is directly impacting revenue streams, shrinking them significantly, and taxing residents more is not an option.
Both supervisor candidates have been trumpeting their ability to manage the town's fiscal crisis for months while criticizing their opponent's abilities. Lesko, coming from his former position running the Long Island office of the U.S. Attorney, has limited experience managing a limited budget. By all accounts — in other words, since Mazzei has not cited Lesko for failure to steer a tight ship there — we must assume he did his job well. Mazzei has a great deal more experience being involved in, although not exactly managing, Brookhaven's much larger finances.
Lesko impressed us with his creative thinking and global perspective. We also were impressed with what seems like an underlying integrity.
Mazzei's propensity toward partisanship gives us pause. For example, Mazzei created the position of a Town Board liaison last January just after his Republican majority emerged, then assigned the new position to a long-time GOP foot soldier with a $98,000 salary and a secretary. We have still not figured out what this person does all day, although we have seen clearly that he does next to nothing for the minority council members despite his title.
The cozy relationship between Brookhaven Republicans and the town's labor unions also worries us. The chief financial officer of the town is supposed to act as the people's representative in negotiations with labor. We are not at all comfortable that the town's taxpayers would be well served if a supervisor so close to the unions goes behind closed doors to negotiate what is supposed to be the best possible terms for residents who ultimately foot the bill. The last Republican supervisor approved an unprecedented 10-year labor contract that has hamstrung the town now that it faces unforeseen fiscal challenges.
Mazzei not only serves as the Fifth District councilman but is a partner in a law practice and owns a restaurant. We are troubled by Mazzei's unwillingness to promise to dedicate 100 percent of his time to the supervisor's multiple tasks. It is and should be a full-time job.
Lesko has faced some of the best defense lawyers wealthy clients can afford and won convictions consistently. Some of that experience, particularly with the asphalt cartel corruption case and the Lawrence Aviation fraud and pollution charges, provided Lesko with a window onto Brookhaven Town government. We believe what Lesko learned looking through that window will help him become a successful supervisor if elected.
Ultimately, the decision between candidates is one of loyalty. A Mazzei victory first and foremost serves the power and prestige of the town Republican machine. Lesko is not (yet) mired in partisanship to the same degree. His victory, we believe, would better serve the majority of Brookhaven residents, no matter their political allegiance. We endorse Mark Lesko.
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