In Nassau, vote for Curran

Long Island’s Nassau County is one of the wealthiest counties in the nation, but its government, like a month-old pumpkin, has for too long been rotting from the inside out due to the chronic corruption of Republican boss Joe Mondello. The county desperately needs a clean break — which it should get by electing Democrat Laura Curran county executive on Nov. 7.

A member of the county legislature who before that served on a local school board, Curran is tough, smart and pragmatic. She is running on a reform agenda to enact strong new rules to demand political probity and transparency, and finally get the county’s damaged finances in order.

God knows, Mondello’s made a mess of everything he’s touched.

It was Mondello who gave Nassau its current, and thankfully finally outgoing, county executive, Ed Mangano. Along with his wife, Mangano has for a year now been under a federal bribery indictment. He selfishly refuses to resign.

Now, his defense lawyer crazily claims that Bill Clinton — yes, the Bill Clinton who stopped being President in 2000 — was behind his arrest.

It was Mondello whose buddy John Venditto was indicted along with the Manganos. Venditto did resign as the top official of Oyster Bay, one of Nassau’s three large towns, and the town has cancelled the big-dollar contract they had with Mondello’s wife. But the damage is done.

Two years ago, Mondello tried to foist the laughably unqualified Kate Murray on the people as district attorney. Thankfully, voters said no and elected a real DA, Madeline Singas, instead.

Mondello also tried to keep Dean Skelos in as head of the state Senate when Skelos was indicted more than two years ago.

And Mondello and pals have stuffed the ranks of local government, up and down, with their cronies. That nepotism must end.

For county executive, Mondello now is running Jack Martins, a former mayor of Mineola and three-term state senator, to replace Mangano. Martins supported Skelos’ leadership even after the charges against him came out.

That’s about all you need to know. Also, that Martins is backed by all five public unions, all with contracts up, convinced he’ll be generous.

Curran will make sure that employees and homeowners — who suffer the highest property taxes this side of Mars — get a fair and affordable deal.

The Daily News endorses Laura Curran to give Nassau government the fumigation it demands.