Republican John M. Kennedy nears decision on Suffolk County executive race

Republican John M. Kennedy, the Suffolk County comptroller, said "Someone has to step forward and save Suffolk," at a fundraiser Wednesday night. Credit: James Escher
Suffolk’s comptroller, Republican John M. Kennedy, says he will make "a firm decision” within 10 days about whether to challenge two-term Democratic County Executive Steve Bellone.
Kennedy disclosed his timeline in an interview after a fundraiser in Lake Ronkonkoma Wednesday night at which he hinted strongly he intends to make the race.
Before a crowd of about 125 people, Kennedy said, “Someone has to step forward and save Suffolk," because of its fiscal problems and repeated bond downgrades from Wall Street.
“Well take a good hard look at it. . . . You’ll hear from me soon,” he said,
“We will save Suffolk,” Kennedy continued.
Kennedy’s comments came after the state Legislature this month voted to move up New York’s primary from September to June. That pushes up the party nomination of candidates to February, and collection of nominating petitions to March.
At the fundraiser, billed as a celebration of his narrow re-election last fall, Kennedy may have inadvertently signaled his intention to run.
“We’re going to be out there a month from now circulating petitions,” said Kennedy, even though he is just starting a new four-year term. He also held up to the crowd a tin license plate-size sign made by supporters in the metalworkers union that read, “Kennedy 2019.”
Bellone spokesman Jason Elan said, “The Suffolk Republicans will have to decide if they want to nominate someone who barely won re-election to his current position or another who physically threatens staffers."
Elan said, "If Kennedy is serious about saving anything, he could join the county executive and hundreds of other county employees by paying into his own health care.”
Kennedy acknowledged his 3,742 vote victory was close, but said it came in a year when Republicans “confronted a wave that was unprecedented.”
Bellone voluntarily pays 15 percent of health insurance costs along with all newly hired county employees.
Elan's comment about physical threats referred to another possible county executive candidate, Suffolk Legis. Robert Trotta (R-Fort Salonga), who has had confrontations with Bellone aides including top deputy Dennis Cohen and a Democratic legislative staffer.
Trotta dismissed Elan’s criticism. “If he's referring to someone willing to fight for the taxpayers . . . that’s me,” he said.
Kennedy’s event came after Bellone reported last week having more than $2 million in his campaign fund. Kennedy, just coming off a re-election campaign, has $98,000.
Kennedy estimated his fundraiser Wednesday raised $20,000 to $30,000. Trotta also showed $38,000 in his campaign coffers after a recent fundraiser.
Kennedy downplayed the fundraising gap, noting he has been outspent in most of his nine races for elected office.
Attending Kennedy’s $150-a-head event were the GOP supervisors of Suffolk’s two largest towns, Edward Romaine of Brookhaven and Angie Carpenter of Islip.
Kennedy’s biggest donor was the Suffolk Police Benevolent Association, listed as a $2,500 Silver Sponsor of the fundraiser. PBA president Noel DiGerolamo once was a close Bellone ally but strongly backed Kennedy’s re-election last year.
Ties between Bellone and DiGerolamo have become badly strained amid negotiations over a new union contract that expires at year’s end and a dispute over $60 million in health insurance givebacks involving all county unions.
Missing from the event was Suffolk Republican chairman John Jay LaValle, a possible candidate for state GOP chairman.
Suffolk GOP’s executive vice chairman Anthony Pancella attended as did Kennedy’s hometown Smithtown GOP chairman Bill Ellis, who introduced Kennedy to the crowd.
In his speech at the fundraiser, Kennedy, without mentioning Bellone by name, criticized the county's fiscal management. “Anybody who tells you we’re doing hunky-dory, I have a bridge to sell you,” he said. “Unfortunately many of the decision makers don’t want to face reality and confront and make the hard decisions.”
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