Exec hopeful Bellone starts listening tour

Babylon Supervisor Steve Bellone's unannounced bid for Suffolk County executive enters a new phase Monday as he launches a countywide listening tour.

Bellone, who has more than $1 million in the bank, will make four stops. He'll focus on economic development in Babylon, downtown revitalization in Central Islip, crime in North Bellport and the issue of housing homeless sex offenders in Riverhead. He also will headline the county Democrats' $300-a-head spring fundraiser Monday night.

"This is not about me going out and making campaign speeches," said Bellone, who has been in office for a decade. "I want to go out and hear what residents think and what their concerns are."

But Suffolk Republican chairman John Jay LaValle branded Bellone's tour as "retread politics" aimed at taking "a page from Hillary Clinton's playbook" in her U.S. Senate campaign in 2000.

"It's difficult for someone who is politically tone deaf to conduct a listening tour," said LaValle. "If Steve Bellone cared about what residents thought he wouldn't have raised taxes in the town 55 percent during the course of his tenure."

Bellone didn't respond specifically to LaValle's attack on his tax record. However, he said, he will be happy to compare his fiscal record with Levy's as the campaign progresses. He said he has "streamlined" government, cut debt every year and that he delivered a $4.2-million property tax cut in 2011.

Richard Schaffer, Suffolk Democratic chairman, said he expects Bellone to do at least 20 events over the next two months before the party's convention. "I think Steve feels he should talk to people of different constituencies, unlike our present county executive," said Schaffer.

Levy, through a spokesman, said: "Not having raised general fund property taxes through my seven-year tenure is indicative that I listen to the people."

Despite his long tenure in Babylon, Bellone, 41, is not nearly as well-known as Levy countywide. Levy is expected to run for the first time as a Republican after defecting from the Democrats last year in his unsuccessful bid for governor. While he has clashed repeatedly with foes on issues including police staffing, illegal immigration and the fate of the county nursing home, backers say Levy's combative style shows he is fighting for taxpayers.

Bellone, like Levy, has not announced his candidacy. Bellone has hired a campaign manager. Rick Fromberg has handled congressional races in Wisconsin and South Carolina.