Bruce Blakeman

Bruce Blakeman
10th County Executive of Nassau County
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2022
Preceded byLaura Curran
Member of the Nassau County Legislature
from the 7th district
In office
January 1, 1995 – December 31, 1999
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byJeff Toback
Personal details
Born (1955-10-02) October 2, 1955 (age 69)
Valley Stream, New York, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationArizona State University, Tempe (BA)
California Western School of Law (JD)

Bruce Arthur Blakeman (born October 2, 1955) is an American attorney and politician currently serving as the 10th County Executive of Nassau County, New York.[1] He was elected in the 2021 election, defeating Democratic incumbent Laura Curran. He previously served as a commissioner for the New York-New Jersey Port Authority as well as a Nassau County legislator and Hempstead town councilman.

Early life and education

Blakeman was born in Valley Stream, New York. Blakeman's father was Assemblyman Robert M. Blakeman. His mother, Betty, served in the Women's Army Corps and his father was a merchant mariner and later Naval Reserve officer.[2][3] His brother, Brad Blakeman, was on the staff of President George W. Bush.[4]

Blakeman attended Valley Stream Central High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and government from Arizona State University and a Juris Doctor from the California Western School of Law.[5] During school, he worked on Republican political campaigns and, for a time, was a driver for former First Lady Nancy Reagan. After passing the bar, he worked as a partner at his father's law firm.[4] Blakeman also holds a certificate in Homeland Security management from Long Island University.[6]

Early career

Bruce Blakeman was first elected to the Hempstead Town Council in 1993.[7]

In 1993, federal district court judge Arthur D. Spatt ruled Nassau County's Board of Supervisors to be in violation of one man, one vote. The Board of Supervisors authorized the creation of the Nassau County Legislature as a successor to their body. Elections were held in November 1995, and Blakeman, at the time a Hempstead town Councilman, was elected to the first legislative class to represent the 7th district. He was also elected the body's first presiding officer.[8] The body took their seats on January 1, 1996.

In 1998, Blakeman was the Republican nominee for New York State Comptroller. He lost in the general election to incumbent Democrat Carl McCall.

During a particularly bad election year for Nassau County Republicans, Blakeman lost his seat in the Legislature in the election of November 1999 to Jeff Toback, and the Republicans lost the majority.[9]

In June 2001, Blakeman was appointed by Governor George Pataki as a commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. He held that position until 2009.[10][11] He was a commissioner during the September 11th attacks.[relevant?]

In 2007, as a member of the New York law firm Abrams, Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman, Greenberg, Formato & Einige, Blakeman brokered the purchase of 52 acres of land in Melville by Canon USA for the construction of new headquarters.[12] About 1,200 people worked at their old Lake Success offices at the time. Previous attempts to move their headquarters to Westbury and Brookville were unsuccessful, and Canon was expected to move out of state if the deal fell through.[13] Long Island Business News reported that Blakeman received a "multimillion-dollar" commission for the sale.[14]

In the 2010 special election, Blakeman ran for United States Senate, but lost the Republican primary to former congressman Joe DioGuardi. In 2014, Blakeman ran for the 4th congressional district, after incumbent Carolyn McCarthy announced her retirement.[15] He won the Republican nomination, but was defeated 53% to 47% in the general election by Democrat Kathleen Rice.

Hempstead Town Councilman

In January 2015, Blakeman was appointed to the Hempstead Town Council, replacing James Darcy[16][7] after previously serving on the Hempstead Town Council from 1993 to 1995.[7]

In 2017, Blakeman joined fellow Republican councilwoman Erin King-Sweeney in endorsing Democratic challenger Laura Gillen in the race for Hempstead Town Supervisor.[17] Gillen, who ran against incumbent Town Supervisor Republican Anthony Santino, went on to win the election, becoming the first Democratic Hempstead Town Supervisor in over 100 years.[18] Gillen named Blakeman Deputy Town Supervisor.[19][20]

In 2019, Blakeman and King-Sweeney endorsed Republican Receiver of Taxes Donald X. Clavin Jr. against Democratic Town Supervisor Laura Gillen for Town Supervisor.[21] Clavin went on to win against Gillen.[22]

Blakeman was succeeded on the Hempstead town council by Republican Assemblywoman Melissa Miller.[23]

Nassau County Executive

In March 2021, Blakeman was chosen by Nassau Republicans to run against incumbent Democratic Nassau County Executive Laura Curran.[24] In the 2021 election he squeaked by with 50.35% of the vote,[25] which was considered surprising in a county with 100,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans.[4][26]

During his campaign, Blakeman promised to fight the state's face mask mandate and vaccination mandate intended to address the COVID-19 pandemic.[27][28] Upon taking office, he signed an executive order making masks optional, contravening the state mandate. On January 24 a New York Supreme Court justice in Nassau County declared the mandate unconstitutional under the state constitution, but a Court of Appeals justice stayed the ruling the next day.[29][30] In February the mask mandate was lifted in most circumstances, rendering the case moot.[31][4]

Blakeman opposes the 2019 New York bail reform and has called for its repeal. Shortly after taking office, he issued an executive order permitting the Nassau County Police Department to disclose when a person released without bail is rearrested.[32]

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine in February, Blakeman helped conduct a rifle drive which resulted in the collection of 60 rifles for Ukraine at a Nassau County gun shop. At the time it was unclear how the rifles would be sent to Ukraine: a Homeland Security said that a weapons shipment would have to be approved by the Department of State. A couple weeks later, the Florida gun manufacturer Kel-Tec agreed to deliver the donated guns to Ukraine as part of a larger shipment of 400 weapons.[33][34]

On September 19, 2022, Blakeman introduced his annual budget proposal for the 2023 fiscal year. This proposal kept tax rates the same and added nearly 100 additional law enforcement positions.[35]

On January 11, 2023, Blakeman joined Nassau Republican Chairman Joseph Cairo and other elected officials to call for the resignation of Congressman George Santos. Blakeman pledged not to work with Santos, criticizing him for lying about his resume, and falsely claiming his grandparents were Holocaust survivors.[36][37]

In March 2023, preceding Ramadan, Passover, Easter, and a campaign visit from then-presidential candidate Ron DeSantis, Blakeman created a patrol unit within the Nassau County Police Department modeled on the NYPD's "Hercules" counterterrorism unit.[38][39]

On May 24, 2023, Blakeman held a rally and press conference in Manhattan in support of West Islip resident Daniel Penny. Penny, a former Marine, was arrested by the NYPD on a charge of fatally choking Jordan Neely, a homeless man who was allegedly acting in a threatening manner, aboard a New York City subway train on May 1 in Chinatown.[40][41] Over the course of the rally, 3 counter-demonstrators were arrested.[40][41]

While walking in the 2023 Stewart Manor 4 July parade, a 10-year-old girl from Franklin Square threw a water balloon at Blakeman from 100 feet away, striking him in the head. It is a long-standing tradition to throw water balloons at fire engines and politicians at this parade. Video of the incident went viral, having been viewed 40 million times as of August 2, 2023. Many viewers mistook Blakeman for Mike Pence. Blakeman located the girl and her family, and worked with New York Yankees President Randy Levine to bring her to a Yankee game and watch batting practice from the field.[42][43][44]

In August 2023, during the New York City migrant housing crisis, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards suggested that migrants could be housed at the Nassau Coliseum. Blakeman responded that Nassau County had no plans for "any migrant program".[45] Soon after, Governor Hochul said the state could not and would not force migrants to move within the state, nor could it force counties to shelter them.[46][47]

Following the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, on October 11, Blakeman held a rally in support of Israel at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theater in Eisenhower Park. 6,000 people were reported to have attended. Aid for Israeli Defense Force soldiers was collected at the rally.[48][49] On November 28, 2023, Blakeman called for the resignation of Susan Poser, president of Hofstra University, over a letter she sent to the Hofstra community about the Hamas attacks in Israel. Blakeman accused Poser, who is Jewish, of anti-semitism.[50][51]

In July 2024, the New York Times reported that Blakeman had recruited 75 people for a force of "special deputies" to deploy during emergencies. Many of them were former police officers. Critics described it as a militia force answering only to him.[52]

On August 14, 2024, Blakeman signed into law the Mask Transparency Act,[53] an act introduced by county legislator Mazi Pilip.[54] It was voted on and passed by the legislature on August 5, 2024.[53] The Mask Transparency Act prohibits the usage of a mask or facial covering to conceal one's identity within Nassau County. Exceptions to the bill are granted for individuals with health concerns or religious obligations. The bill seeks to eliminate anti-Semitism and hate crimes in the county that occur during protests. Violation of the act results in a misdemeanor charge of up to $1,000 USD, imprisonment for up to a year, or both.[55]

Blakeman's salary in 2022 and 2023 was $211,821. In 2024, a cost-of-living adjustment increased that to $227,959.[56]

Annual Budget

On September 16, 2024, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has signed the county’s 2025 budget plan, totaling $4.2 billion. The budget maintains property taxes at the same level as the previous year, ensuring no increase for both 2024 and 2025. It includes provisions for 206 new hires, such as two police cadet classes and two correction officer classes. An additional $22 million has been allocated for early intervention and preschool services for children. The budget assumes no growth in sales tax revenue, which constitutes 45% of the county’s total revenue.[57]

Blakeman emphasized that keeping property taxes flat is a key strategy, which he believes is crucial for attracting new businesses to the area. He also highlighted the need for a careful approach to fiscal management, particularly given the county’s reliance on sales tax revenue. This marks the second consecutive year without a property tax increase under Blakeman’s administration.[58][57]

Nassau Coliseum

Blakeman is a proponent of a lease from Nassau County to the Las Vegas Sands entertainment company to redevelop the site of the Nassau Coliseum, including the construction of a casino.[59] The deal passed the Nassau County Legislature with a vote of 17-1 with one recusal to transfer the Coliseum lease to the Sands.[60] Hofstra University filed suit against the deal, claiming that the county violated the state open meetings law by not adequately providing enough transparent, public hearings for the project. Hofstra had also been critical of the project due to possible increases in crime, traffic and gambling addiction. On November 10, 2023, a state judge ruled in Hofstra's favor and struck down the deal.[61] In May 2024, Blakeman announced that the county would resubmit the lease-transfer application.[62]

On January 17, 2024, Blakeman and Nassau Legislative Presiding Officer Howard Kopel announced the issuance of subpoenas to Hofstra University President Susan Poser. Blakeman and Kopel accused Poser of colluding with Hard Rock International, a direct competitor for the casino license. Hard Rock and Hofstra stated that neither had been in touch with the other. Hofstra described the subpoenas as retaliatory and an "attempt to distract and impede a fair and open process."[61][63][64][65][66]

On September 18, 2024, Former President Donald Trump held a rally at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale in Nassau County, NY at the invitation of Nassau County Executive Blakeman and Nassau County Republican Chairman Joseph Cairo. The Rally drew over 60k supporters. The event took place on a Wednesday night, with Trump addressing a packed crowd inside the arena. Most attendees, unable to get inside, watched from large screens outside.[67][68][69]

Transgender women at county facilities

On February 22, 2024, Blakeman issued an executive order banning women's sports teams that include transgender women from using county facilities. The ban applies to youth, college, and professional sports. Sports teams including transgender men were not targeted. In a press conference beforehand, Blakeman repeatedly referred to transgender women as "bullies" and "biological males," and recommended that they join men's or co-ed teams instead. State Democratic leadership and Long Island LGBTQ advocates condemned the order as discriminatory and illegal under state law, and accused Blakeman of using the controversy over transgender people in sports for self-promotion.[70][71][72]

State attorney general Letitia James issued a cease-and-desist letter to Blakeman; he sued the attorney general in response.[73] In March the Long Island Roller Rebels, represented by the New York Civil Liberties Union, filed suit against Blakeman over the order.[74][75] Later that month Caitlyn Jenner made an appearance with Blakeman in support of the ban.[76] In April, district court judge Nusrat Jahan Choudhury denied a request from Blakeman for a restraining order against James preventing her from blocking the executive order.[77] Later that month, Choudhury dismissed his suit against James.[73]

On May 11, a state judge struck down the order on the grounds that the county executive lacked the authority to impose the ban.[78] The county legislature passed a similar ban the next month, voting along party lines.[79][80][81]

Face Mask Ban

In August 2024, Nassau County, New York, enacted a law prohibiting the wearing of face masks in public to conceal one’s identity, with exceptions for health or religious reasons. The first arrest under this law involved a teenager, Wesslin Omar Ramirez Castillo, who was found carrying a knife and wearing a ski mask. The law, known as the Mask Transparency Act, makes such an offense a misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail or a $1,000 fine. A lawsuit challenging the law was dismissed last night, upholding the ban’s enforcement.[82][83][84]

Support for Donald J. Trump

In March 2024, Blakeman attended the wake of NYPD officer Jonathan Diller alongside Donald Trump in Massapequa, NY.[85][86][87]

Blakeman held and attended a rally for Trump at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, NY during September 2024, prior to the elections in November.[88][89][90]

On Monday, October 7, 2024, Blakeman and Trump visited the Ohel, gravesite of the Rebbe at the Old Montefiore Cemetery in Queens, NY for the first anniversary of the October 7 attack in Gaza.[91][92][93]

Personal life

Blakeman married Segal Magori Blakeman in 2015.[94] He was previously married to Nancy Shevell, who is now married to Paul McCartney of The Beatles. He has one son, Arlen,[95] and two step children, Ariel and Avi. Blakeman is the first Jewish Nassau County Executive. He is a member of the Jewish Center of Atlantic Beach, a Modern Orthodox synagogue.[96]

His nephew, NYS Court Officer Tommy Jurgens, was killed in the line of duty on 9/11 while assisting in the evacuation of Tower 2 of the World Trade Center. Blakeman provided a DNA sample to identify his nephew's remains.[97]

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Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for New York State Comptroller
1998 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by County Executive of Nassau County, New York
2022– 		Succeeded by
incumbent