(Long Island, NY) The Suffolk County Legislature’s majority caucus, which holds 12 out of 18 seats, voted unanimously to select Legislator DuWayne Gregory (D-Amityville) as Presiding Officer and Legislator Jay Schneiderman (I-Montauk) as the next Deputy Presiding Officer at its meeting on Friday December 20, 2013.
The Suffolk County Legislature’s majority caucus, which holds 12 out of 18 seats, voted unanimously to select Legislator DuWayne Gregory (D-Amityville) (left) as Presiding Officer and Legislator Jay Schneiderman (I-Montauk) as the next Deputy Presiding Officer at its meeting on Friday December 20, 2013.
The 12-member caucus met to decide on a replacement for former Presiding Officer Wayne Horsley of Babylon, who has left the legislature to become the regional director of Long Island State Parks. The final vote for these leadership positions took place at the County Legislature’s Organizational Meeting on January 2, 2014.
Every year, the Suffolk County Legislature holds its Organizational Meeting on the first business day of the New Year. As the longest standing member of the Legislature, Jay Schneiderman chaired the meeting. During the meeting Legislator DuWayne Gregory was elected Presiding Officer, while Legislator Schneiderman was elected Deputy Presiding Officer. These two positions were made based on support from their colleagues, who cited the experience and leadership qualities of the two candidates, among other qualities.
Among the many powers and duties of the Presiding Officer, he chairs all meetings of the full Legislature, preserves order and determines when to recess meetings. The Presiding Officer also establishes independent committees, boards, and commissions and designates a chairperson to a specific committee. In the event of an absence from a Legislative meeting of the Presiding Officer, the Deputy Presiding Officer presides and assumes the powers and duties of the Presiding Officer.
Legislator Schneiderman will be the first member of the Independence Party to hold a leadership position at the county level. It has been a long time since the East End has been represented in a leadership role.
“I would like to thank my colleagues for this great opportunity,” said Deputy Presiding Officer Schneiderman. “I look forward to working with Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory and the County Executive towards a proactive agenda and to be a strong voice for Suffolk County.” Schneiderman plans to work on mental health issues, poverty, public transportation and the fiscal issues facing Suffolk County’s budget. Schneiderman also plans to move forward with environmental issues such as improving water quality, and reducing the incidence of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.
A leadership role of the Suffolk County Legislature is significant for the Independence Party as a minor party. Other East End members of the Independence party include Anna Throne-Holst as Southampton Town Supervisor, Alex Gregor as Southampton Town Superintendent of Highways and Assemblymen Fred Thiele as the East End’s state assemblyman.
Representing the South Fork, Jay Schneiderman is the Suffolk County Legislator for the Second Legislative District. For more information, or to arrange an interview, please call (631) 852-8400.
