Four-term Glen Cove Mayor Ralph Suozzi to run again

Four-term Glen Cove Mayor Ralph Suozzi formally announced his re-election bid yesterday.

Suozzi, a Democrat elected in 2005 as a third-party candidate, also announced that he has opened his campaign headquarters for the November election. He faces City Council member Reginald Spinello, an Independence Party member who is also running on the Conservative and Republican lines.

“I’m running on my record,” Suozzi said in a news release. “We’ve had five budgets in a row for which our expenses came in under budget. We negotiated historic public employee and police contracts so that all new employees contribute to their health benefits.”
The mayor is running on the Democratic, Working Family Party and Glen Cove Voters lines.

Suozzi touted as achievements the transfer of the city’s sewage-treatment plant to Nassau County, securing millions in federal, state and county grants, upgrading public safety equipment, and improvements to city infrastructure.

He also took credit for preserving the Pratt mansion that currently operates as a hotel and convention center. The property was rezoned last month to allow the owner to split off part of the property to build 40 houses, a controversial plan that was opposed by Spinello and two other City Council members.

The election is a rematch of 2007 when Spinello lost to Suozzi. After serving one term as a City Council member, Spinello has said he is well-positioned to challenge the incumbent.

“The only fact that people care about his record is that he raised taxes,” said Spinello in an email when asked about Suozzi’s announcement.

The city’s finances could be a vulnerable spot for Suozzi, who has presided over two bond downgrades by Moody’s Investors Service. While Suozzi touts spending that came in below budget, city records show that revenues have also come in short in recent years.

The Suozzi family has been a force in Glen Cove politics for generations. Ralph is the son, nephew and cousin of three Suozzis who have served as mayor, including Tom Suozzi, who is running again for Nassau County executive.