Suffolk County Democratic Chairman
What a difference a year makes. Richard Schaffer last year saw Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, a lifelong Democrat, ditch the party for the GOP in a failed gubernatorial bid. That left Schaffer with a hole at the top of his ticket in the upcoming county exec race. Then Levygate happened, so Schaffer tapped a rising star: Babylon Town Supervisor Steve Bellone. Still, Schaffer has his work cut out for him maintaining the Democratic majority in the county legislature since three of his stalwarts are term-limited.
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