Horsley Elected Presiding Officer of Suffolk Legislature

The Suffolk County Legislature unanimously elected Legislator Wayne Horsley (D–Babylon) to serve as the presiding officer for the remainder of the year on Tuesday. The vote comes nearly a month after the death of former Presiding Officer William Lindsay.

The position has been vacant since Lindsay, a 12-year member of the legislature and presiding officer since 2006, passed away on Sept. 11 after a long battle with a rare lung cancer.

Horsley, who has served as a legislator since 2005, had previously served as the deputy presiding officer in the Legislature for the past year. He had been serving as the temporary presiding officer until the vote.

"I am honored to become the leader of this extraordinary Legislative Body and to have had the opportunity to serve as deputy presiding officer for the last two years," Horsley said in a statement.  "It is with mixed emotion that I accept the role of presiding officer, but I am confident, together we will continue to do the work of the people in the spirit of cooperation and respect displayed by Bill Lindsay."

Horsley's tenure as presiding officer will be short, however – he announced earlier this year he would not seek re-election in the 14th District, an area encompassing Babylon Village, Lindenhurst, West Babylon and a small area of North Babylon.

Instead, a newcomer to the legislature will take his place next year – either Tom Dolan, the Democratic candidate, or Kevin McCaffrey, the Republican candidate.

Horlsey announced earlier this year he will take a new position as regional director of the Office of State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation for $120,000 a year.

He worked in the state parks office for over 18 years before his 2005 election to the Suffolk County Legislature.