The big list of Influentials of 2006

Long Island Business News, Dec 29, 2006 by LIBN Staff

The power of people

There was a time when most of what happened on Long Island was controlled by a handful of pols and the top execs at Grumman, Newsday and the Long Island Lighting Co.

No more. Grumman is preceded by "Northrop" in its title these days, and global decision making has shifted to L.A. Newsday, now run out of Chicago, is on the auction block, and could end up being acquired - say it ain't so, Al - by the New York Post.

LILCO is gone, replaced by a public authority and KeySpan. The future leadership of both is up in the air.

There are still the pols, of course - some things do not change. But Long Island's predilection for eating its elected young has kept the Washington delegation to the back benches, and a local hasn't made a serious run at the governorship since 1978.

No, Long Island is now a place run by individuals. Arguably, too many of them.

This, then, is their tribute. A look at the men and women who, through power, force of will and, occasionally, pure B.S., held sway over Long Island during 2006.

Navigating the list

The Influentials list was compiled over several months by the LIBN staff with input from dozens of members of the Long Island business community and occasional fervent pitching by public relations professionals. We'd like to tell you we created a complex computer vetting matrix, but we actually resorted to magic markers and huge post-its that wall-papered our conference room. Looking back, some doodling was involved.

Holding a seat of power was not enough to win inclusion. Instead, we focused on individuals who were effecting real change. As a result, some are one-shots who had a big year; others are perennial players who, likely, will be back again in 2007.

The Influentials aren't ranked and there's no special order to how they're presented here. The photos are similarly arranged by what fit where, with an eye toward what we call "color positions" and other technical requirements. And no, members of the LIBN staff were not considered.

*****************************SIDEBAR********************************

Politics

Dean Skelos

Deputy Minority Leader, New York State Senate

An honorary fourth member of the Three Men in a Room who divvy up the state government pie, Skelos, the Senate's deputy majority leader, is hands-down the most powerful state politician on Long Island. Skelos is next in line for the aging Joe Bruno's leadership post, and as long as the GOP retains its control of the Senate, Skelos' star will remain in the ascendancy.

Peter King

U.S. Rep., R-Seaford

King will lose his Homeland Security crown at the start of 2007, but in 2006 he was the most powerful congressman on Long Island. Enough said.

Jerry Kremer

Lawyer/commentator/political insider

There was no greater supporter of Eliot Spitzer on Long Island than Kremer. Emboldened by criticism from Tom Suozzi's ill-fated campaign that he crossed an ethical barrier for taking sides, Jerry took off the gloves for the governor-elect, winning him access that should pay off for Long Island in spades. The former state assemblyman also has the ear of Attorney General-elect Andrew Cuomo.

Tom Spota

Suffolk County District Attorney

No one strikes as much fear in the hearts of politicians as Suffolk DA Tom Spota. He's a Republican-turned-Democrat, and his investigations are so thorough that he's largely considered above the fray. His hit list in 2006 is impressive, including the jailing of deposed Islip Supervisor Pete McGowan and the conviction of former Suffolk legislator Wayne Prospect. Now Spota's name is being bandied about for the federal prosecutor's job in Brooklyn.

Roslyn Mauskopf

U.S. Attorney

In the last year, Mauskopf has proven that she's much more than a Pataki crony. The federal prosecutor for Long Island and Brooklyn has thrust her office to the forefront of the federal government's crackdown on white-collar crime. Former CA Inc. officials, including disgraced CEO Sanjay Kumar, are heading to Club Fed, and Mauskopf's office narrowly missed convicting former Symbol execs. Mauskopf tracked down fugitive Comverse CEO Kobi Alexander in Africa, and her deputies have kept the heat on governance-challenged Cablevision.

Steve Levy

Suffolk County Executive

Ever the entrepreneurial politician, Levy isn't bothered by the idea that illegal immigration is supposed to be a federal, not county, issue. At the same time, the Miser of Hauppauge has minded the store, keeping a lid on taxes and spending. His brand of centrism, which mixes fiscal austerity with a more activist social agenda, including a green environmental position, has provided the blueprint for the Democratic transformation of Suffolk, a former GOP stronghold.

Tom Suozzi

Nassau County Executive

He spent most of the year in other counties around the state in his failed bid for the governor's seat, but no one's forgotten that Suozzi is still top dog in Nassau.

He's aggressive in pushing his ideas - sometimes too aggressive. The Legislature pushed back on a deal with Charles Wang to redevelop the Nassau Hub. Meetings ensued. Bids were made. And Wang, with new partner Scott Rechler, won. Meaning Suozzi won.