Lesko names Walsh deputy supervisor
Supervisor reached across party lines to pick GOP councilwoman
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Newly elected Brookhaven Town Supervisor Mark Lesko vowed during his campaign to work in a bipartisan fashion if elected.
On Tuesday, two days before his first Town Board meeting, the Democrat made a bold announcement that shows he's headed in that direction -- and he's bringing at least one Republican with him -- when he introduced GOP Councilwoman Kathy Walsh as his new deputy supervisor.
Ms. Walsh, 49, said she will remain in her 3rd District council seat while serving in the dual role and that she also hopes to continue in the both jobs after seeking re-election in November.
Mr. Lesko called the decision a "unique opportunity to forge a partnership that is not based on partisanship or party."
"This is based on an opportunity to take the politics out of Town Hall," Mr. Lesko said
Ms. Walsh, who lives in Centereach, called the move an opportunity for good government.
Ms. Walsh expressed to the Sun last year an interest in the supervisor's job, but was passed over for majority leader Tim Mazzei, who lost a special election to Mr. Lesko by 10 percentage points March 31.
Ms. Walsh is not the first Brookhaven council member to serve in a dual role as deputy supervisor, although she is the first to cross party lines to do so. Republican Glenn Murphy of Miller Place served as deputy supervisor to John Jay LaValle for nearly two years while serving as an at-large councilman. Mr. Murphy left his dual role to run for district court judge in 2003, a position he still holds.
Like Mr. Murphy, Ms. Walsh will forgo her council salary and will instead collect a deputy supervisor salary of $115,000 -- a pay increase of nearly $50,000. In her new role, Ms. Walsh will actually make more than Mr. Lesko.
Ms. Walsh said she was first approached by Mr. Lesko last week. "I was very surprised," she said. The second-term councilwoman is expected to begin her new job Friday. Mr. Lesko said he expects former acting Supervisor Lori Baldassare to stay on board in a new capacity still to be determined.
The wife of town blue-collar union president Bill Walsh, Ms. Walsh is one of four Republican-endorsed candidates on the seven-member Town Board. The selection of Ms. Walsh helps align Mr. Lesko with the town's union employees. Ms. Walsh was one of two Town Board members, along with Mr. Mazzei, to oppose an initiative to install GPS systems in town vehicles. The town's civil service employees endorsed Mr. Mazzei in his race with Mr. Lesko.
The new relationship between Ms. Walsh and Mr. Lesko could take away some strength from the Republican majority, balancing the power on the Town Board. But Ms. Walsh said she does not expect her dual role to impact her relationship with her fellow Republican board members.
"I will continue to caucus with my Republican board members," she said.
All seven members of the Brookhaven Town Board offered their support for the move by attending the announcement Tuesday.
"I'm optimistic that this is going to be about good government," said 2nd District Councilwoman Jane Bonner. "I am."
gparpan@northshoresun.com
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