in History from Adelphi University and a Masters in History from Long Island University. For ten years, Ed served as a history teacher in the Hauppauge School District. In 1980, he entered public service as the Town of Brookhaven’s first Commissioner of Housing and Community Development and was later appointed Director of Economic Development. Ed was a member of the Suffolk County Legislature serv
ing from 1986 through 1989, where he was known as a fiscal conservative, sponsoring such cost-saving measures as the Suffolk County Tax Cap. Additionally, he established a record as a fighter for the environment by authoring Suffolk’s first Clean Water Act. In 1989, he was elected Suffolk County Clerk and served for 16 years, taking an active role in increasing productivity and improving access to official records. Ed is recognized as a pioneer in government use of technology and was chosen “2001 New York State County Clerk of the Year.”
In 2005, Ed Romaine was again elected to the County Legislature, representing the First Legislative District and re-elected in 2007, 2009, and 2011. As a county legislator, Ed preserved countless acres of open space across eastern Brookhaven, the North Fork and Shelter Island. He sponsored numerous pieces of landmark legislation including “Michael’s Law,” which banned explosive fuel gels; the state’s first local law to regulate helicopter traffic; and established the LIPA Oversight Commission. In addition, Ed reduced the tax burden on residents by promoting smart government initiatives and real tax reform. Ed Romaine resides in Center Moriches with his wife, Diane.
