Suffolk Dems officially nominate Bellone

Babylon Supervisor Steve Bellone promised to bring "real change" to Suffolk County while ending the "politics of fear and division" Wednesday night after he was named by acclamation as the Democratic candidate for county executive.

"We have no time to spare," he told a crowd of more than 350 at the party's county convention in Hauppauge. "Our county government is in terrible condition and our region faces challenges that threaten our long-term prospects."

To shouts and applause, he added, "It is time that we put a real Democrat back in the county executive's office." Bellone's statement was in reference to incumbent Steve Levy, who defected to the GOP last year.

In his acceptance speech, Bellone, 41, vowed to "go to the taxpayers last" to balance budgets. He promised to take a long-term approach to solving county problems as he has done in Babylon in remaking town parks, redeveloping Wyandanch and adopting stricter energy-saving standards for housing.

John Jay LaValle, Suffolk GOP chairman, accused Bellone of "turning Babylon into the tax capital of Suffolk County."

Republicans, meanwhile, are still waiting to see if multimillionaire businessman Randy Altschuler will agree to be the GOP standard-bearer and if Suffolk Treasurer Angie Carpenter will wage a primary.

In the one convention floor fight, Dr. William Spencer, of Centerport, defeated party fundraiser and Realtor Steve Rosetti, of Lloyd Harbor, 6,324 to 3,016 for the open 18th Legislative District seat now held by Jon Cooper. Rosetti said he will run a primary.

Democrats also renominated incumbents who were not term limited, plus the following new candidates: Trisha Chiaramonte, of Manorville, 1st Legislative District; Joseph Turdik, of Selden, 4th district; Kara Hahn, of Stony Brook, 5th district; Rob Calarco, of Patchogue, 7th district; Marty Aponte, of Hauppauge, 12th district; and Allen Huggins, of Smithtown, 13th district. The party left open nominations in the 10th and 11th districts.