Mr. Blass, also a former presiding officer of the Suffolk County Legislature, family court judge and JAG officer in the U.S. Navy, was appointed as Social Services commissioner by former county executive Steve Levy in 2009. (suffolktimes.timesreview.com)
The January 15 special election is being held to fill the nine months left in the term of former county legislator Ed Romaine, who vacated his post in November after being elected Brookhaven Town supervisor. (suffolktimes.timesreview.com)
A ban had existed prior to Astorino's election and was initially signed by former County Executive Andrew Spano, a Democrat, in the wake of the Columbine shootings in Colorado. (harrisonreview.com)