With all the enthusiasm and, yes, hope, being generated by Murphy versus Tedisco in the 20th, people are overlooking another important race: Democrat Mark Lesko's effort to succeed newly-minted Senator Brian Foley as supervisor of Brookhaven in Suffolk County. The winner of the special election will serve until November, when a full two-year term is at stake.

Newsday just endorsed Mr. Lesko over his republican opponent, saying:

Lesko, 42, has just finished a decade in the U.S. Justice Department. As a federal prosecutor, he worked on cases involving the Muttontown slave holders, a major polluter in Port Jefferson, fraud at Symbol Technologies, and corruption in the William Floyd School District and the asphalt industry in Suffolk. [...]

For now, Lesko seems to have a broader vision and be more committed to such reforms as ServiceStat, a management system that makes commissioners more accountable. There's been no session since December, and the GOP majority eliminated the job of its head. Besides a dedication to reform, Lesko has the temperament, smarts and managerial experience to get it done. The editorial board endorses Lesko.

On the web: Mark Lesko for Town Supervisor