Suffolk Republicans named Democrat Carol Bissonette, a former Brookhaven town board member, to run against Legis. Kate Browning in November.

Bissonette, deputy town parks commissioner, had also been considered for town supervisor and town clerk, but town GOP leader Jesse Garcia said the party decided on the county race because she is "well-known and has a record of getting things done in the community."

Bissonette was the highest-profile new name in the GOP county legislature slate at the LaGrange party convention held Tuesday. At Villa Lombardi's in Holbrook, the Democrats' named their legislative candidates last night at their convention.

Bissonette, 52, a Mastic Beach resident, said she "has the fire in the belly" and criticized what she termed a "vacuum of leadership" in the county. Republican sources say Bissonette as a Democrat could also challenge Browning, a Working Families Party member, in the Sept. 15 Democratic primary.

Richard Schaffer, Suffolk Democratic chairman, said Bissonette poses no threat because "she had already been rejected by the voters," and if she tries to run a primary "it will just make Kate stronger" because Bissonette has "no support in the Democratic party."

Democrats currently have an 11-6 legislative majority with term-limited GOP Legis. Cameron Alden unable to run again. Former Republican Legis. Jay Schneiderman, now an Independence Party member is looking for backing from both major parties. Both parties put up no one for Schneiderman's seat, and Republicans so far have no foe for Presiding Officer William Lindsay, Ricardo Montano or Wayne Horsley. Democrats have named no opponent to face Legis. Daniel Losquadro, the minority leader.

In other targeted races, GOP officials named former legislative aide Thomas Cilmi in Alden's open 10th district seat, and advertising executive Dean Murray to oppose Legis. Jack Eddington (I-Medford).

Two Democrats, meanwhile, will vie in a primary for Alden's seat: Patrick Nolan, son of the Islip Supervisor, and legislative aide Brendan Stanton.

The GOP also named five other candidates who made prior runs: former Suffolk detective union president Thomas Muratore in the 4th district; labor lawyer Matthew Groh in the 16th; attorney and youth sports activist Edward White of Copiague in the 15th; health consultant Peter Busacca in the 5th, and Frank Stalzer in the 18th. Newcomer Kevin Meyer, a Melville businessman, will run in the 17th.

Democrats also named civic activist Kelly Platt in the 1st district; fuel oil dealer James Alcus in the 11th; retired corrections officer Errol Toulon Jr. in the 12th, and lawyer Rachel Kerdman in the 13th.