3. Richard Schaffer

Since Schaffer took the reins as the top Dem in Suffolk, the county executive’s seat, the legislative majority, congressional seats and many other power positions have come over to his side. He reunited and reinvigorated a party that was, for all intents and purposes, stagnant and dead: a distant second to the powerful GOP. Schaffer has taken on all comers and come out ahead. With the state Senate hanging by a thread, look for Schaffer to prove his mettle again and win one of the vulnerable Suffolk seats that are up next year. And, you can bet he will be stumping pretty hard when it comes to the presidential parade that will march across LI next year. If we gauge his future on his past successes, Schaffer will again make history.