County Executive Steve Bellone, a Democrat, is facing a re-election challenge this year from John Kennedy, the Republican county comptroller.
“Everything I’m focused on is how we can create a stronger community and environment for young people, seniors, and families to be successful,” Mr. Bellone said in an interview this week. “That’s why I’m running for re-election. We’ve made a lot of progress on some really significant issues, but there’s more work to be done.”
He has supported transit-oriented development, including awarding a grant for a pedestrian and bicycle connection from the train station to the downtown area in Montauk. He has also supported water quality improvements, public transportation, and affordable housing.
“I believe the East End is critical to our county’s future and that we need to be investing and bringing resources to the East End to make sure that we can continue progress there,” he said.
Mr. Bellone was first elected as Suffolk County executive in 2011 after serving 11 years as the Babylon Town supervisor. He made headlines upon his election for cutting his own salary, refusing a county car, and contributing to his own health insurance — a first at the time for a Suffolk County executive.
He is an Army veteran who served as a communications specialist. Among his endorsements are Suffolk AME, a county employees union, as well as the Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association and Newsday.
Mr. Bellone lives in West Babylon with his wife, Tracey Bellone, and their three children.
Mr. Kennedy did not respond to requests for an interview, but on his website he said one of his priorities is to “save Suffolk.” He describes himself as a “government bulldog as your fiscal watchdog.” Mr. Kennedy said he “recognizes that difficult times require elected officials who are willing to approach the communities’ needs creatively.”
The former county legislator was first elected to the comptroller’s seat in 2014 and has also served as the county treasurer since 2016. When he was a legislator he was minority leader for a time and served on committees including budget and finance, economic development, public safety, and ways and means.
Mr. Kennedy says on his website that over the last several years as comptroller he has helped find $20 million in savings for the county. “We’re not the Kennedys of silver spoons,” he says. “We are the working-class Kennedys and we will take back our county for the overtaxed families of Suffolk.”
Among Mr. Kennedy’s endorsements are the Mason Tenders District Council, the Utility Workers Union of America, the Building and Trades Council of Nassau and Suffolk, and at least two weekly newspapers. He lives in Nesconset with his wife, Leslie Kennedy, who is a county legislator. They have four children and seven grandchildren.