Suffolk Dem chief vows to run challenger against Levy

Suffolk Democratic chairman Richard Schaffer said last week he's making it "crystal clear" that party-switching County Executive Steve Levy won't get the kind of free ride from Democrats next year that he enjoyed in 2007 with the GOP's cross-endorsement. "We're going to have a very strong candidate next year," Schaffer told a crowd of 300 at Babylon Town Supervisor Steve Bellone's annual golf outing last Monday in Wyandanch. "In fact we have one right here," alluding to Bellone - who replied he was "not making any announcements today." Bellone, with $403,590 in his campaign coffers, added about $150,000 more. Levy is due to amp up his re-election fund with a $400-a-head fundraiser in Holbrook Sept. 16. - Rick Brand