Election 2017: Schnirman vs. Labriola For Nassau Comptroller

Following sitting Comptroller George Maragos's failed bid for the county executive, the race for the seat of Nassau County's top financial manager is open, and two men are angling to take over the position.

On the Republican side is Steven Labriola, a Massapequa Park resident. Labriola is a former state Assemblyman, having served as the representative of the 12th District from 1997 to 2003, when he decided not to run for reelection. In 2003, Labriola ran for the position of Town Clerk in the Town of Oyster Bay, which he won. He held the seat until he decided not to run again in 2010.

After his time in Oyster Bay, he served as the county's chief deputy comptroller. During his time in the position, Labriola says he managed a staff of 8o and worked to find waste and fraud in the county's finances, referring several matters to authorities for criminal investigation. Today, he serves as the chief compliance officer in the county's Management and Budget Department.

Challenging Labriola on the Democratic side is Jack Schnirman, the current city manager of Long Beach. Schnirman also brings extensive experience to the race. He served as the chief deputy supervisor of the Town of Brookhaven from 2006 to 2008, and then went into the private sector as a management consultant. He came back into public service in 2012, when he became the city manager for Long Beach, a position he still holds.

Schnirman says he helped turn the city's $14 million deficit into a $7 million surplus, increased the city's bond ratings and helped the city recover form Hurricane Sandy, which decimated the island.

Both candidates have a plan to open up the county's finances and address waste and fraud.

Labriola wants to create a whistle-blower hotline where residents and county employees can leave anonymous tips, create an anti-fraud unit in the comptrollers office and double the number of audits the comptroller's office performs.

Schnirman says he wants to make information on the county's finances transparent and open to the public, reestablish the Independent Audit Committee and partner with the district attorney to reform the county's contracting process.

Photo: Steve Labriola, left, and Jack Schnirman.