DiNapoli backs Suozzi in county exec race

Dan Glaun

Former Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), who is seeking a rematch with County Executive Ed Mangano (R-Bethpage) for the county’s top post this year, has won the endorsement of state Comptroller and former rival Tom DiNapoli.

“Tom Suozzi has always had a strong vision for the future of Nassau County, and he is the candidate in the race with the experience, ability and skill to restore fiscal responsibility to county finances.” DiNapoli in a press release. “He has led our county out of a fiscal crisis before and I know he can do it again. I fully and enthusiastically endorse Tom Suozzi for county executive because I believe he is the best candidate to make Nassau the ideal suburb once again.”

The endorsement marks a reversal of the political dynamic that characterized Suozzi’s first run for the executive’s office in 2001. DiNapoli, the widely endorsed party favorite, lost in the Democratic primary to Suozzi’s outsider campaign. Suozzi went on to win election, holding the post until a razor-thin loss to Mangano in 2009.

“I am humbled by the endorsement of our great Comptroller Tom DiNapoli,” said Suozzi in a press release. “Tom is a great public servant and is committed to making government more efficient and ethical. He shares my vision for the future of the county that we are both proud to call home.”

Now Suozzi is the candidate of choice for Democratic party leaders, and is facing off in a primary against Roslyn businessman Adam Haber, whose campaign has repeatedly castigated both Suozzi’s and Mangano’s administrations.

Haber’s campaign has been active as well, releasing a plan for his first 30 days in office that includes transparency and ethics measures, pledges to end patronage appointments, diversity initiatives and a timeline to fix the county assessment process.

“Adam Haber’s first 30 days in office will set the tone for an administration that is responsive to the needs of Nassau’s residents, transparent and forward looking,” wrote Haber’s campaign in a statement.

The three candidates have put forward competing visions for the county in the early months of the race. Mangano has said that his hard line on property tax increases will reduce burdens on Nassau taxpayers and spur economic growth, while Suozzi has called Mangano’s administration fiscally irresponsible and highlighted the need for commuter and young professional-friendly housing in the county. 

Haber, who has largely self-funded his campaign thus far but said he has been receiving widespread grassroots support as well, has accused both Suozzi and Mangano of engaging in insider politics and called for campaign finance reform.

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