Suffolk County lawmakers have renamed the county’s north complex in Hauppauge for the late Legis. William Lindsay (D-Holbrook), the county legislature’s longest serving presiding officer, who died of lung cancer in September.
Legislators, all 17 of whom cosponsored the bill, unanimously approved the measure at their Tuesday meeting in Riverhead. A committee is being formed that will work out details of the renaming of the complex.
“William Lindsay led the legislature through difficult financial times with great skill and compassion, all while struggling with his own personal health issues,” said Legis. Jay Schneiderman (I-Montauk).
Lindsay, who served 12 years in the legislature—eight of them as presiding officer—won the panel’s biggest battle versus former Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy before Levy declined to run for a third time to settle a criminal probe into his campaign fundraising.
Lindsay, who was a union official in the Long Island Brotherhood of Electrical Workers before running for office, stayed on as presiding officer while he was undergoing treatment. His colleagues referred to him as the “Lion of the Legislature.”
William Lindsay Jr. (D-Bohemia) won his father’s seat in a November special election, but can’t fill the vacancy until January because of the district was redrawn for reapportionment this year.
Lindsay’s deputy, Legis. Wayne Horsley (D-Babylon), who is stepping down at the end of the year to take a New York State parks job, has been filling in as temporary presiding officer.
The legislature will name its new presiding officer on New Year’s Day. Their last meeting of the year is scheduled for Dec. 17.
“We all had the greatest respect for Bill—as a legislator, presiding officer, mentor and great friend,” said Horsley. “It is our great honor and pleasure to name the North Complex in his honor.”
The Nassau County Legislature’s meeting room was similarly named for its late longtime presiding officer, Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa), after he died in October 2012.
