24. Kate Murray

As chief executive of Hempstead township, a first for a woman in the town’s long history, this Levittowner and former assemblywoman is long-rumored to be the local GOP’s next best candidate for Nassau County Executive. Tom Suozzi, the current county exec who is unclear on whether he’ll run in 2009, likely has already figured her for his next challenger. No official word has surfaced and candidates won’t make themselves known for another year, but as the second most powerful political executive in the county, it would be a race to remember, should the rumors be true.