Bruce Blakeman, the presiding officer of the county legislature, is perhaps the most paradoxical character in the local political arena today.

This past Friday, as the legislators, government officials like Senator Alfonse D'Amato and State Comptroller H. Carl McCall, and sundry connected spectators gathered at Nassau Community College for the offical swearing in of the legislature, the spotlight belonged to Blakeman, the Woodmere politician who hopped from obscurity on the Hempstead Town Board to one of the most powerful positions in county government.

Senator D'Amato went so far as to hail the fortysomething legislator as "the future of the Nassau County Republican committee," predicting that for Blakeman, the future was only limited by his own ambitions.

Meanwhile, the county executive, who was seated with the Democratic legislators and is perceived as a potential candidate for lieutentant governor, was practically accorded the respect of a political has-been.

What goes on here? Is Bruce Blakeman really the future of the Nassau County Republican Committee?

There's no question that Bruce himself has always wanted to be the party's standard bearer. The story goes that Joe Mondello actually decided to give Blakeman the nod for the Hempstead Town Board during a barbecue at his home.

Initially, the future presiding officer of the legislature could not be located, but after several attempts, he was finally reached at his Manhattan apartment. Ninety minutes later, witnesses say, Blakeman appeared in the chairman's backyard - dressed in a three piece suit.

And that's basically the way many in the rank and file still view Blakeman today - he's always acted something like an over-eager prom date.

From the town board, where he toiled a very short time in relative obscurity, Blakeman ascended to the presiding officership. Now, granted, he has matured a great deal in that role - faux pas are now at something of a tolerable minimum - for him to now be elevated to shining star seems to fly squarely in the face of an old maxim of Chairman Mondello's: there's nothing wrong with a little seasoning.

In other words, ambition is fine, but get some experience under your belt.

Senator D'Amato's allegiance to Blakeman is easily understood: the presiding officer and his family are wealthy, and wealth is a wonderful thing to have on your side in any election year, but particularly in what is anticipated to be a hard fought and fever-pitched battle.

Indicative of Blakeman's relative inexperience was his announcment at the inauguration that his wife, Nancy, has been battling breast cancer for the past 18 months.

Everyone, of course, wishes his wife well, but was it really appropriate to make such an anouncement in that setting? Does the whole world have to become The Jerry Springer Show?

Had he made the same announcment at theribbon cutting for the Hewlett House Breast Cancer Research Center, a project he championed, one could have understood. But there was nothing to be gained - aside from painting oneself into a fine position to get political sympathy - by making the announcement when he did.

There's no doubt, having known the presiding officer for the past two years, that his heart is generally in the right place. Unlike many who go into politics, Blakeman would never exact his ambition at another person's expense - save an electoral opponent.

With the seasoning that Chairman Mondello usually requires of his candidates, Bruce Blakeman may well have a bright future in politics. In fact we wish the best for everyone in their professional life.

The remarks delivered by Senator D'Amato, however, seemed inappropriate. For starters, of all the people in the room, Bruce Blakeman will take them most to heart - something that could lead him to make some very critical mistakes in the months and years ahead.

Lastly, it very well could be that to satisfy his own ambitions, D'Amato doesn't care if he sacrifices Blakeman's future. What matters now is the "do re mi."

Bruce, you may be riding high, but in all good fellowship we do hope you'll go slow. The future will be here soon enough.