Ed Romaine Sworn-In as Suffolk County Executive

By Niall Fitzgerald

Former Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine was sworn in last week as the new Suffolk County Executive, the first Republican to hold the office in 20 years.

Romaine had previously served as Suffolk County Clerk and a Suffolk County Legislator. He ran unsuccessfully for Suffolk County Executive in 2003, and ran for US Congress in 1992.

He was joined at the oath of office by his wife Diane, and was sworn-in by Supreme Court Justice James Hudson.

Romaine pledged to be strong defender of Suffolk's suburban communities, and to resist the urban "mass housing" plans of Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-Buffalo) the Albany Democrats. He also pledged to protect Suffolk's environment and natural resources, and to protect Suffolk's water quality.

Romaine appointed Kevin Molloy to be Chief Deputy County Executive; and Michael Monahan, Jennifer Jeungst, and Christina Capobianco as Deputy County Executives.

Rob Waring has been designated as acting police commissioner, and according to sources, Christopher Clayton, Special Counsel to Suffolk DA Ray Tierney, is slated to become County Attorney. 

Many of the appointments require approval by the County Legislature, where Republicans won a super-majority of 12 to 6 in last November's elections.