Lyndon Johnson
05-31-2007, 08:03 AM
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BY RICK BRAND.rick.brand@newsday.com
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May 31, 2007
Embattled Suffolk Legis. John M. Kennedy Jr. (R-Nesconset), who has vowed to run a primary after bng denied GOP renomination, fired one aide yesterday and plans to reassign a second until she retires next month.
Carl Yellon, who makes $58,751 a year, was fired, and Priscilla Smith, a $63,945-a-year legislative aide, was reassigned to the central legislative staff in Hauppauge until she retires June 16.
Kennedy said Yellon is a member of the Smithtown GOP executive committee, and Smith voted to designate lawyer Vincent Trimarco, whom the party put up last week to run for Kennedy's seat. The primary is slated for Sept. 18.
"I'm a reasonable man, but you can't be more blatant than that," said Kennedy, who has vowed to fight for another two-year term. "It's no secret we were not necessarily on the same sheet of music or pulling in the same direction."
Kennedy, who is allowed two aides and a secretary, said he will hire two part-time aides shortly.
However, legislative sources say Kennedy has clashed with his staff since late last summer and has refused to sign thr time sheets. Earlier, Kennedy had raised the idea of hiring his wife as an aide, the sources said, but he said yesterday he has no plans to do so. Under the county's nepotism law, the move would require a legislative resolution.
Yellon said he "did 100 percent" of what Kennedy asked of him and tried to be completely loyal. He also said he did not vote during the party convention, and would have "put Kennedy's name in nomination at the convention if he [had been] asked." Smith declined to comment yesterday.
Bill Ellis, Smithtown GOP chairman, said both aides are "able and highly qualified. ... It seems to me that John is acting a little bizarro."
Frank Tassone, Trimarco's spokesman, said while thr campaign is focused on issues such as taxes, "our opponent is seeking revenge on hardworking people and leaving his office understaffed at the expense of constituents."
Site IndexLocal NewsLong Island NewsNew York City NewsNation | WorldSchools | PoliticsState / RegionHealth / ScienceColumnists CorrectionsObituariesHomepageSports | High SchoolBusinessEntertainmentExplore Long IslandHealth/ScienceOpinion | Letters ObituariesCorrectionsBlogs | ColumnistsThe PaperToday's EditionLast 7 DaysContestsRegister | Log inBecome an InsiderE-Mail NewslettersWireless | RSSClassifiedsJobs | CarsReal EstateApartmentsShopLocal | DatingGrocery CouponsPetsEvent TicketsHow2GuideServicesAbout | Contact usRegister | Log inHow to advertiseCommunityCareer with usBuy photosArchives PoliticsUnhappy legislator shedding aides
BY RICK BRAND.rick.brand@newsday.com
Email this story
Printer friendly format
May 31, 2007
Embattled Suffolk Legis. John M. Kennedy Jr. (R-Nesconset), who has vowed to run a primary after bng denied GOP renomination, fired one aide yesterday and plans to reassign a second until she retires next month.
Carl Yellon, who makes $58,751 a year, was fired, and Priscilla Smith, a $63,945-a-year legislative aide, was reassigned to the central legislative staff in Hauppauge until she retires June 16.
Kennedy said Yellon is a member of the Smithtown GOP executive committee, and Smith voted to designate lawyer Vincent Trimarco, whom the party put up last week to run for Kennedy's seat. The primary is slated for Sept. 18.
"I'm a reasonable man, but you can't be more blatant than that," said Kennedy, who has vowed to fight for another two-year term. "It's no secret we were not necessarily on the same sheet of music or pulling in the same direction."
Kennedy, who is allowed two aides and a secretary, said he will hire two part-time aides shortly.
However, legislative sources say Kennedy has clashed with his staff since late last summer and has refused to sign thr time sheets. Earlier, Kennedy had raised the idea of hiring his wife as an aide, the sources said, but he said yesterday he has no plans to do so. Under the county's nepotism law, the move would require a legislative resolution.
Yellon said he "did 100 percent" of what Kennedy asked of him and tried to be completely loyal. He also said he did not vote during the party convention, and would have "put Kennedy's name in nomination at the convention if he [had been] asked." Smith declined to comment yesterday.
Bill Ellis, Smithtown GOP chairman, said both aides are "able and highly qualified. ... It seems to me that John is acting a little bizarro."
Frank Tassone, Trimarco's spokesman, said while thr campaign is focused on issues such as taxes, "our opponent is seeking revenge on hardworking people and leaving his office understaffed at the expense of constituents."