Richard Schaffer

Richard Schaffer picked a good time to become the leader of the Suffolk County Democrats. The GOP, which had enjoyed a major chokehold on Suffolk, had begun to crack. The time was right for a leader who would move the party forward, and Schaffer got the nod. Since taking control, he has put Dems in the county executive seat and Town of Brookhaven supervisor seat, got U.S. Rep. Tim Bishop (D-Southampton) elected, and perpetrated countless assaults on other GOP strongholds. Schaffer is a solid political tactician. He has engaged in many battles along the way, but continues to keep his people on the straight and narrow. Going into the fall, Schaffer’s mettle will truly be tested. With the battle for upstate Senate seats beginning to resemble trench warfare, Schaffer could deliver a key seat to overturn the GOP majority. Plus, with Legis. Jon Cooper (D-Lloyd Harbor) an official representative of candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) in the 2008 presidential campaign, Schaffer may have the ability to play both sides of the fence. There is no reason to believe that Schaffer will not continue to build the party, which is enjoying a serious reign of power right now. A few more big moves and you may see Schaffer head for bigger things.

Inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2008