Islip's Democratic supervisor, Philip Nolan, had the support of the Long Island Builders Institute last year when he first won office. But he says he was "taken aback" when the chairman of this year's screening committee turned out to be his opponent's husband.
The July 31 letter signed by Thomas Datre, chairman of the BUILDERS PAC, and two of its committee members, invited Nolan to appear for an interview and to fill out the group's questionnaire for possible endorsement. Datre's wife is Clara Datre, the Republican nominee for supervisor. Thomas Datre is also a member of the town plumbing board - and a town official for whom Nolan successfully pressed to end free medical benefits.
Nolan said he plans to answer the questionnaire and appear before the builder's political action committee, but added, "It certainly raises a red flag."
Although Datre signed the letter, Robert Wieboldt, the political action committee's secretary-treasurer, said the committee chairman will recuse himself from candidate interviews, and removed himself from committee discussion and the vote itself. "He won't be at the meeting or influence in any way the determination," Wieboldt said.
Rick Brand
Comments (3)
vote clara datre the best grandma ever
you must be kidding
islip town supervisor
The Datre's are as crooked as they come!