Who runs Nassau County when Bruce Blakeman campaigns for governor?

The day-to-day operations of Nassau County are expected to hum along despite Executive Bruce Blakeman being on the campaign trail. 

Blakeman, 70, has taken two multi-county trips, his spokesman said, since announcing he'll run for governor of New York. While he's out traversing the state in an attempt to reach voters from the Adirondacks to the Hudson Valley, he is likely to rely on his chief deputy county executive, Arthur Walsh, as well as other department heads, to be his eyes and ears in Mineola while he's away.

Blakeman, in a statement to Newsday this week, said he is fully engaged in county government even as he runs for higher office. 

"I am in constant contact with my office and all department heads on a 24/7 basis," he said in a text message relayed by spokesman Chris Boyle.

With U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik dropping her bid for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, Blakeman is now the only candidate mounting a bid against Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Here's what to know on what happens while is away:

Who is Nassau County Chief Deputy County Executive Arthur Walsh? 

Walsh, 63, of Floral Park, is an attorney and general counsel for the Nassau Regional Off-Track Betting Corp., a quasi-governmental agency. He is a top adviser to Nassau County Republican Committee Chairman Joseph Cairo, who is also the president of OTB.

He has been an attorney since 1988 and is a graduate of Touro Law Center. He was among the first appointees to Blakeman's transition team in 2021 when he won his first term as county executive. It is unclear what role he will have in Blakeman's second term, which begins on Jan. 1. 

Walsh was a key member of the negotiating team during the Blakeman administration's deal with Las Vegas Sands, leaseholder of the 72-acre, county-owned property where  Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum sits in Uniondale.

Sands, a Nevada-based casino company, had wanted to bid for a state gaming license to open a $6 billion casino resort at the site but plans collapsed in the spring. The company continues to occupy the Coliseum site, paying a fee to the county.

In 2024, Walsh's salary was $220,907, according to county payroll records. Blakeman's was $226,164.

What are the powers of the deputy county executive? 

According to Nassau's bylaws, the county executive "shall designate one or more deputies in his office to perform the administrative duties" with the county executive having the power to "indicate therein the extent of such delegation." According to a list of his designated powers, Walsh can sign legislation and the county budget in Blakeman's absence, but not transfer property or appoint department heads.

In the event of absence or disability of the county executive and the deputy county executive, the presiding officer of the county legislature, currently Republican Howard Kopel, of Lawrence, would be empowered to perform such duties, the county charter says.  

As with former county executives in Nassau, Blakeman delegates duties to Walsh. Similarly, former County Executive Ed Mangano, a Republican, relied on his chief deputy, Rob Walker, and former County Executive Laura Curran, a Democrat, leaned on her chief deputy, Helena Williams. 

Generally, these chief deputies had the authority to sign off on county contracts, mobilize law enforcement and make major decisions on behalf of the county executive. 

There are three deputy county executives who report to Walsh. They are: Joseph D. Muscarella, deputy county executive for governmental affairs; Tatum Fox, deputy county executive for public safety; and Anissa D. Moore, deputy county executive for health and human services, according to the county organizational chart.

What happens to the Office of the Nassau County Executive should Blakeman win the race to become governor? 

Blakeman has sought higher office before so it was no surprise that he was mulling a run for governor while serving as county executive. He began to speak about it publicly two days after he won a second term, indicating to several news outlets, including Newsday, that he was looking at the opportunity "very seriously." 

About a month later, he announced he would challenge Stefanik. While the state Republican Party convention and a possible primary  are still months away — let alone a general election in November — Blakeman would need to vacate the county executive's seat if he became governor.

According to the county charter, the Republican-controlled legislature would appoint a new county executive who would serve until the outcome of a special election is determined. The winner of that election would serve out the remainder of Blakeman's term. 

"Vacancies in the office of the County Executive shall be filled by County Legislature, and in any other such office by the County Executive, subject to confirmation by the County Legislature. Any such appointee shall hold office until and including the thirty-first day of December next succeeding the first annual election after the occurrence of such vacancy at which such vacancy can be lawfully filled by election; at such annual election a successor shall be elected to hold office for the unexpired balance of the term if any," the bylaws say.

By Candice Ferrette

candice.ferrette@newsday.comcandiceferrette

Candice Ferrette covers Nassau County government and politics on Long Island. She has been a reporter at Newsday since 2011.