16. John Jay LaValle

This former Brookhaven Town Supervisor gave up his decade-long political career when he declined to seek a third term five years ago in order to spend more time with his family—at the same time his township became known as Crookhaven for all of the Republicans who were facing corruption charges there. Six weeks before last Election Day, LaValle made a surprise comeback amid a contentious vote for the Suffolk GOP’s countywide leader. His return came just in time for anti-incumbent voter sentiment to unseat a Democratic town supervisor and a county legislator, as well as give Republicans the majority on various town boards. LaValle’s not done yet. Next on the agenda: helping Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy get the state GOP’s nod in the gubernatorial race while keeping Levy’s opponent, former Congressman Rick Lazio, at bay. Regardless of the current daily sniping between the two candidates, should either Levy or Lazio win, it can only mean good things for both LaValle and LI.