News

Consolidating to Save Money, Improve Services

Jun
18
2013

With your support, I was elected as County Executive to make Suffolk County a great place to live, raise a family and operate a business. I work each day to overcome impediments to improving Suffolk County by making the tough decisions to move us forward. For years we have spoken in our region about eliminating unnecessary government offices and the need for common sense consolidations that save taxpayer dollars while delivering more efficient services. This November, we will do something about it.

I have introduced a resolution that asks the Suffolk County Legislature to allow the voters to decide in a referendum whether we should merge these offices under the leadership of an elected Chief Financial Officer. This resolution to...| read more ››

Bellone: Merge Suffolk treasurer, comptroller offices

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone
Jun
14
2013

Democratic County Executive Steve Bellone Thursday proposed the merger of Suffolk's treasurer and comptroller's offices, both of which are run by elected Republicans, saying it would save $1 million a year.

Bellone released a report that said creating the single department would cut "duplicative" management jobs.

He said he will ask the county legislature to place a referendum on the November ballot to authorize the merger. If the referendum passes, Bellone would appoint an interim chief financial officer to run the new office throughout 2014, and an elected leader would begin a four-year term on Jan. 1, 2015. Suffolk is the last of New York's 62 counties to still elect a treasurer and comptroller.

"We continue to talk about...| read more ››

The State of Our County

Bellone Logo
Feb
21
2013

On Tuesday night, I was honored to deliver my second State of the County address as Suffolk County Executive. If you missed it, you can view it here.

I talked about the progress we have made over the first year of our Administration as well as the significant challenges still facing Suffolk County. This year, I declared that the State of our County is "rebuilding" in the wake of crises ranging from our budget to Superstorm Sandy.

As you know, I inherited a budget deficit that was estimated at more than $400 million over three years and rather than continuing the infighting that had ground our county to a halt, I rolled up my sleeves and worked with the...| read more ››

Krupski’s transition to county gov’t underway

Jan
17
2013

It’s been less than two days since Al Krupski won a lopsided victory to become the North Fork’s county legislator-elect, but he already has committee assignments and a new office. And he knows there’s a lot more ahead as he says farewell to the Southold Town Board and hello to the Suffolk County Legislature.

Mr. Krupski will take the oath of office next Thursday, Jan. 24 — where has yet to be determined — with his term officially beginning on Friday. First, however, there’s the business of the county Board of Elections certifying the election results. The BOE is already into the “recanvassing,” the standard post-election review of all the ballots, and could declare Mr. Krupski the winner sometime next...| read more ››

Albert Krupski Jr. reflects on election win

Al Krupski
Jan
16
2013

After a stunning landslide victory Tuesday in his race for Suffolk County's 1st Legislative District seat, Southold farmer Albert Krupski Jr. started Wednesday by taking care of business.

After breakfast, he drove around town picking up campaign signs.

Krupski became the first Southold Town resident ever elected to the county legislature, and only the second Democrat elected in the district, which covers the North Fork and the northeastern part of Brookhaven Town.

Krupski, 52, of Cutchogue, who has served on the Southold Town board since 2005, defeated Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter by better than a 2-1 ratio. The unofficial count was 6,561 to 3,182. He beat Walter in 19 of 22 of Riverhead's election districts.

The legislature's 1st District...| read more ››

WATCH: Democrats – And Sean Walter – Congratulate Krupski

Jan
16
2013

With 67 percent of the vote, Southold Town Councilman and North Fork Farmer Al Krupski defeated Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter during a special election Tuesday night for a seat on the Suffolk County Legislature.

And supporters from across the county, student political observers — even Sean Walter at one point after his defeat — showed up to a banquet room at the Dark Horse Restaurant in downtown Riverhead to congratulate Krupski.

“You stomped me bad,” Walter told Krupski, coming from Cody's BBQ and Grill, a few doors down – to shake the victor's hand. “I intend to stay in Riverhead, apparently — I appreciate the message. I wish you the best of luck, my friend, God bless.”

Watch a...| read more ››

Krupski wins landslide victory in county legislative race

Jan
16
2013

Democrat Al Krupski won a landslide victory over Republican Riverhead Supervisor Sean Walter in Tuesday's special election.

Suffolk Board of Elections unoffical results show Krupski winning more than 67 percent of the vote: 6,561 votes to Walter's 3182. He becomes only the second Democrat ever elected to represent the First Legislative District and the first county legislator from the Town of Southold.

Krupski's supporters gathered at the Dark Horse Restaurant in downtown Riverhead to watch the returns come in. With each entry on a large board showing the candidate's commanding lead on his opponent's home turf — the Southold councilman won 19 of 22 election districts in Riverhead Town, including the supervisor's own election district — the crowd erupted in...| read more ››

Krupski Wins Open Legislature Seat in Landslide

Jan
16
2013

Southold Town will have to find another councilman.

Southold Town Councilman Al Krupski defeated Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter during a special election Tuesday night for a seat on the Suffolk County Legislature.

Unofficial results on the Suffolk County Board of Elections website show Krupski with 6,561 votes to Walter's 3,182 – 67 percent of the vote – with all 65 election districts reporting.

Krupski thanked a crowd of Democrats at Dark Horse Restaurant in downtown Riverhead, though said the upcoming resignation from his current post will be bittersweet.

"It's been a great experience learning the whole district and the whole county," he said, adding later that "it's really hard to have to leave such a good group of workmen....| read more ››

Krupski trounces in race for Suffolk Legislature seat

Jan
16
2013

Councilman Al Krupski has handily defeated Riverhead Supervisor Sean Walter for the 1st District seat in the Suffolk County Legislature.

Polls for Tuesday’s special election closed at 9 p.m. and — before the Board of Elections update page crashed — Mr. Krupski had 6,445 votes to Mr. Walter’s 3,076, with 62 of 65 districts reporting.

That’s good for 68 percent to 32 percent.

County Executive Steve Bellone (D-Babylon) showed to Democratic election night headquarters at Dark Horse restaurant in Riverhead not long after Mr. Walter conceded with a handshake and some words congratulating his opponent.

Mr. Krupski’s win now gives the Democrats a veto-proof majority in the Legislature.

Mr. Bellone said he just got back from “a big win today...| read more ››