A petty Republican county executive on Long Island has refused to lower flags to half-staff to honor the late President Jimmy Carter. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has declined to comment on his divisive decision as Americans mourn the passing of a former President. CBS News reports: A Republican official who oversees Nassau County on New York's Long Island has seemingly refused to lower flags to half-staff in memory of the late Democratic President Jimmy Carter, who died last weekend at the age of 100. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican, has not publicly explained his reason for not lowering flags at Nassau County-operated buildings.