48. John Jay LaValle

John Jay LaValle knows a thing or two about political comebacks. A few years ago the former Brookhaven Town supervisor had declined to seek a third term in order to spend time with his family and devote himself to his law practice. But then in 2009 he decided to make a last-minute bid to become Suffolk Republican chairman and won on the convention floor. He surprised the New York political world by getting Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy to change parties and enter the Republican primary race for governor. Levy fell short in the end. And when it looked like LaValle had a sure thing with a popular incumbent running for re-election as county executive, Levy pulled a shocker himself and bowed out, leaving the chairman with more than a few loose ends. But soon enough he united party leaders behind Angie Carpenter, the current county treasurer, making her the first Suffolk woman from a major party to run for county executive. And so LaValle proved once again that those who doubt his political prowess do so at their own peril.