4. Dean Skelos
2004 Power List
As deputy state Senate majority leader, Skelos is the Island’s senior man in Albany and the #2 lawmaker in that chamber. Last year, the Republican pol led the opposition to Gov. Pataki’s budget as well as Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi’s reorganization of sewer and storm water operations. As one of four overseers of the MTA’s five-year multibillion-dollar capital-spending program, the Rockville Centre rep also has a major say over LI commutes.