26. Jerry Laricchiuta

Laricchiuta took Nassau by storm when he defeated incumbent Jane D’Amico in a historic upset for the presidency of the county’s largest union back in June. Since then, he’s been a very visible and very vocal defender of his members, opposing proposed ER staff cuts and testifying before the Legislature to ensure new hires and proper procedure at Wantagh’s troubled Cedar Creek sewage plant. Consequently, he’s also become a bit of a thorn in the side of county management—an indication that he’s doing exactly what people voted him in to do.