8. Madeline Singas

This was Singas’ first full year on the job after upsetting former Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray in a closely watched election. Singas at the outset promised to be tough on corruption following the high-profile conviction of ex-New York State Sen. Dean Skelos, whose case focused heavily on Nassau’s beleaguered contracting system. Seven months into her tenure, Singas released a damning report in which she characterized the county’s broken contracting process as “the product of no one administration or political party, but instead the result of years of neglect, ineffectual, surface-level reforms, and a regrettable failure to learn from past failings.” She also provided a list of eight recommendations, including the establishment of an independent County Inspector General who would have broad investigative authority. In the meantime, Singas, a career prosecutor, continues to take on criminals of all forms, and ensure that no Long Islander, no matter their title or connections, is above the law.