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Nassau's political structure ever-changing before Election Day

The federal corruption arrests of Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano and Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto may have signaled a seismic shift in Nassau's political power structure. On Thursday, Mangano,

News 12 Staff

Oct 23, 2016, 6:33 AM

Updated 2,981 days ago

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The federal corruption arrests of Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano and Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto may have signaled a seismic shift in Nassau's political power structure.
On Thursday, Mangano, his wife Linda and Venditto were in federal court in Islip. Mangano and Venditto are accused of providing favors to a prominent Nassau restaurant owner in exchange of gifts including a watch and a massage chair.
In addition, it included a no show job for Mangano's wife that paid $450,000 over four years.
Mangano has vowed to stay on the job, while Venditto is considering whether or not to resign.
News 12 political analyst Jerry Kremer says the arrest of two high-powered Republican officials greatly affects the political landscape.
"You're talking about a political organization that has had strength and power for as long as anyone can remember," Kremer told News 12 on Thursday.
The one Nassau town the Democrats routinely control was rocked by scandal earlier this year when former North Hempstead Democratic Party leader Gerard Terry was arrested on tax fraud charges.
The county also lost a stalwart of its legislature when former Democratic Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs passed away last month. She had been in office since 1996.
NIFA, the control board that oversees Nassau's finances, has seen changes in 2016 as well. NIFA chairman Jon Kaiman resigned his post in February to run for Congress. He was replaced by Adam Barsky.
On Friday, Nassau PBA President James Carver announced he will retire early next year after 35 years on the force. Carver is an important player in Nassau when it comes to law enforcement, labor and how those issues often intersect with the political process.
One way or another, Nassau's power players continue to change, and Election Day is still more than two weeks away.