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Bellone Re-Elected To Third Term As Suffolk County Executive

Jay Shah
/
WSHU
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone addresses supporters after winning re-election.

Democrat Steve Bellone was re-elected for a third term as Suffolk County executive. He defeated Republican Suffolk County Comptroller John Kennedy. 

Bellone beat Kennedy by a margin of approximately 55% to 43% according to the county Board of Elections.

Bellone says the challenges facing the county are always evolving, and he is ready to keep fighting for better solutions.

 

“We’ve overcome a significant number of crises and challenges. We’ve made progress, and this is about continuing that project. Whether you’re talking about water quality, the financial crisis, MS-13, the opioid epidemic.”

Bellone also says that keeping young people on Long Island is a priority to maintain the working population.

This will be Bellone’s third and final term due to county term limits. 

Meanwhile, Kennedy blamed his loss on negative campaign ads and Bellone’s $2 million war chest. He warned Bellone in his concession speech that he will continue to provide oversight.  

“We’re going to continue to go ahead and ferret out the fraud, waste and abuse that’s prevalent in this county. To my opponent, he may have won today, but he better keep looking over his shoulder because we are going to be on the hunt, on the watch, and we’re going to keep doing the people’s business.”

Kennedy’s campaign had focused on fiscal responsibility, with plans to consolidate departments and cut spending. 

Jay Shah is a former Long Island bureau chief at WSHU.
Desiree reports on the lives of military service members, veterans, and their families for WSHU as part of the American Homefront project. Born and raised in Connecticut, she now calls Long Island home.