By:John C. O'Connell
With less than three weeks to go before Democrats head to the polls to choose their party's candidate for county executive, contenders Tom DiNapoli and Tom Suozzi are taking every opportunity to point out their differences and highlight their respective strengths.
The two met at the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library Monday night, under the auspices of the League of Women Voters of the Greater Five Towns, co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Long Beach. MaryLou Urban, secretary-treasurer of the State League of Women Voters, moderated the spirited yet congenial debate.
DiNapoli, 47, the assemblyman from Thomaston on the north shore, and Suozzi, mayor of the gold coast City of Glen Cove, both seemed at ease with themselves and accustomed to each other's jibes. Prepared by previous forums to market their talents and experience, each deftly and politely slighted his opponent's abilities to handle the job.
DiNapoli has had the backing of most top party officials and received an early endorsement from the Long Beach Democratic Club and its leader, Gene Cammarato, last spring. Despite losing at the party's county convention, Suozzi has battled on thanks to strong fundraising efforts. He has received some increased support within the party, including an endorsement just last week from county Leg. Michael Zapson (D, Long Beach), who broke ranks with most other Long Beach Democrats.
Responding to questions from the packed library auditorium several dozen people standing in the aisles and the back had to leave the room to satisfy the fire code each candidate spoke of his accomplishments, skills and goals. Both reiterated specific plans to help right the county's listing ship of state.
Suozzi spoke his well-worn campaign slogan, saying that he knows he can do the job because he has already done the job, referring to his experience as mayor of one of the county's two cities.
Everything that I've done in my life up to this point has prepared me to be the county executive, said Suozzi, who turns 39 this month. A CPA and an attorney, the eight-year mayor said he has been the chief executive officer, making the hard decisions, negotiating contracts, putting ideas into action, and getting things done.
Suozzi touted the performance-evaluation system he implemented in the city, contract negotiations he's conducted with city unions including police, his waterfront revitalization project and the financial health of Glen Cove as some of the evidence of his qualifications for the county's top job.
With an adept left hand, Suozzi complimented DiNapoli on his legislative skills, but said, the county executive is an executive management position
