Nassau Comptroller Jack Schnirman

A native Long Islander, Jack Schnirman has a proven record of turning around broken and corrupt government finances to improve services and save taxpayers money.
After working on Capitol Hill and earning a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government, Jack returned home to clean up local government.

As Brookhaven Chief Deputy Town Supervisor, Jack took on the culture of corruption that was so deep the town was known as “Crookhaven.” Jack helped stop the abuse of taxpayer dollars on no-bid contracts, patronage and scandals. He also stopped past pay-to-play schemes between Town Hall and vendors, and ended the annual theft of $70,000 in lawnmowers. Jack also helped improve town services while saving taxpayers millions by implementing ServiceStat, a management initiative that helps hold town departments accountable. And Jack made government work better for the community by launching a 3-1-1-style constituent response system.

As a private management consultant, Jack worked with clients, like the Town of Southampton, to streamline government and increase efficiencies, while delivering more effective constituent services.

Now, as Long Beach City Manager, Jack Schnirman helped turn around a nearly bankrupt city, inheriting a $14 million deficit and near junk bond status after five downgrades. On Jack’s watch, the city’s finances have turned around. Long Beach’s bond rating has been upgraded twice and received nine consecutive credit positive reviews; and the $14 million deficit is now a $7 million surplus. Jack has helped implement smart reforms like overhauling the city’s purchasing process to ensure all expenses are justified, stopping family members from supervising each other, instituting a new performance management program, and creating a 3-1-1-style smartphone application for residents.

Jack did all this in the wake of one of the greatest disasters to ever hit Long Beach, Superstorm Sandy. While reconstruction efforts have lagged throughout our region as a result of incompetence and corruption, Long Beach has rebuilt stronger and more resilient. Long Beach’s iconic Boardwalk was destroyed by Sandy. Under Jack’s leadership the Boardwalk has been rebuilt— on-time and under budget.

Jack Schnirman will bring the same professional, results-oriented approach to Nassau County government by opening the County’s books, asking the tough questions, and providing an honest assessment of what’s really happening so we can end the corruption and stop wasting taxpayer dollars.

Jack lives in Long Beach with his wife, Joan, and their daughter, Sage. He is a member of the New York Conference of Mayors, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, and the Truman National Security Project’s Partnership Program. Jack has served as a career advisor to the NYU Wagner School of Public Service’s Fellowship for Emerging Leaders in Public Service and also as co-chair of the Curriculum Committee for the New Leaders Council. He is also a member of the New York State Government Finance Officers’ Association, the Energeia Partnership, the Regional Economic Development Council’s infrastructure working group, and has served on the board of the Long Island Chapter of the New York League of Conservation Voters.

About Nassau Comptroller Jack Schnirman