Dems dismiss GOP flyover against Bellone

Steve Bellone, Democratic candidate for Suffolk County executive, is on the air with a cable-TV ad blitz. Republicans last week took to the air, too -- with a plane pulling a banner slamming Bellone's tax record as Babylon supervisor. The hired plane buzzed over the end-of-summer "Babylon Beach Blast," attended by town Democratic chairman Robert Stricoff and Bellone at Cedar Beach. The banner urged beachgoers to visit BigTaxBellone.com, a website with GOP anti-Bellone ads. Richard Schaffer, county Democratic chairman, dismissed the stunt. Noting a GOP lack of funds, he said: "They probably had to borrow money to pay for the plane." -- Rick Brand