Gov. Cuomo has secretly joined with former US Sen. Alfonse D’Amato and other top Republicans to stop Democrat Tom Suozzi from recapturing his old job as Nassau County executive, key Nassau Democrats angrily charge.
Cuomo, who has yet to endorse Suozzi two weeks after Suozzi’s victory in the Democratic primary, has taken several important steps to strengthen Republican incumbent Edward Mangano, including firing his leading critic, the Democrats say.
D’Amato, a lobbyist with multiple clients who, as senator, was credited with leading the effort that defeated then-Gov. Mario Cuomo in 1994, has emerged as “an important player in Cuomo’s re-election strategy on Long Island, especially in Nassau County and especially in trying to help Mangano,” a source with strong Cuomo-administration connections told The Post.
D’Amato was also described as a “frequent and friendly presence’’ for his lobbying clients at Cuomo’s Capitol offices.
Democrats claim that Cuomo, who has had tense relations with Suozzi for years, fired Ronald Stack, the independent and well-regarded head of the Nassau County financial-control board, last week to halt the board’s frequent criticisms of Mangano’s fiscal policies.
“Mangano was begging Cuomo to get rid of Stack before the election,’’ said a source close to the governor.
Cuomo replaced Stack (without, insiders said, even the courtesy of a “heads-up’’ phone call) as head of the Nassau Interim Finance Agency with Jon Kaiman, who starts working for Cuomo as a paid staffer Monday, overseeing the ongoing, hugely expensive Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts — spending for which is subject to review by NIFA.
Kaiman, who is resigning as North Hempstead town supervisor to work for Cuomo, is widely seen in Nassau political circles as hyperambitious and willing to be what one local official called “Cuomo’s messenger boy’’ in exchange for two high-profile political jobs.
“You took a totally independent NIFA chairman, Stack, who had the courage to take on Mangano, and replaced him with someone on Cuomo’s own payroll? Maybe [Cuomo’s corruption-fighting] Moreland Commission ought to look into that one,’’ said a prominent Nassau Democrat.
Cuomo has made several recent high-profile appearances with Mangano — including one in Oyster Bay on Saturday — under prodding from D’Amato and from Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos. The governor has made none with local Democrats
“D’Amato and Skelos are determined to stop Suozzi because Suozzi, as county executive, will help Democrats win Senate seats on Long Island,’’ said a close Suozzi ally.
A Cuomo-administration source would say only, “Primaries just wrapped up and general-election endorsements will be made at the appropriate time.”
Suozzi, in an interview with The Post, refused to criticize Cuomo and said he was still hoping for his backing.
“I’ve known the governor for 20 years, I consider him a friend, and I can’t imagine him doing anything that would hurt me personally or hurt the people of Nassau County,’’ said Suozzi.
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As Cuomo plays what may be a double game in Nassau County, Skelos is alleged to be doing the same in Westchester County.
Some close to Republican Westchester Executive Rob Astorino say Skelos has been undermining Astorino as he faces a tough Democratic opponent in the November election.
They say Skelos has rewarded Westchester Independence Party leader Giulio Cavallo with patronage jobs and other support — in hopes of getting Independence backing for Senate candidates next year — at the same time that Cavallo was blocking Astorino from getting his party’s ballot line.