41. James Carver

Carver has had a rough year, but this tough cop still has a lot of fight left in him. He fought a losing battle against an unprecedented halving of police precincts from eight to four. Just last month, the county legislature increased the new police commissioner’s disciplinary powers over the rank-and-file officers Carver represents. And after facing threats of police layoffs amid Nassau County’s never-ending fiscal quagmire, the union leader is sure to be asked for more concessions down the line. But the lawmakers in Carver’s crosshairs may well find themselves unemployed come re-election time, given the political clout the PBA wields.