Suffolk County Executive Race Heats Up

Singing Kumbaya

Rich Schaffer, the Suffolk Democratic chairman, literally grew up across the street from Bellone in North Babylon and has watched his protégé rise in government. He said that Bellone “is not into ‘Let’s send out a press release and tell everyone we’re working on this issue,’ and then you never hear about it again. He’s actually a very thoughtful person, really into policy and really into bringing everybody together to come up with solutions. It will be a drastic change [in governing] as opposed to what we’ve got now, which is slash and burn vs. kumbaya!”

The outcome of this race could be historic, according to Brookhaven Town Republican Chairman Jesse Garcia.

“I do believe, in my soul, that we’re going to make history: We’re going to elect the first woman as county executive,” he said. “A woman who has experience as a small business owner, and has sacrificed time away from her family to give back to the voters in public service.”

Schaffer hoped it would be a cleaner contest, too.

“I think for the first time you’re going to have a race that is going to be an intelligent discussion of the issues facing the county,” he said. “I think voters would be much happier listening to that discussion than listening to a political leader throw mud.”

Mopping up Suffolk’s muck is already hard enough no matter who wins in November.