Suffolk Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. complains about Tim Sini campaign mailer

Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr., a Democrat, says a campaign mailer by Democratic District Attorney Timothy Sini could give voters the false impression that Toulon has endorsed Sini for reelection.

Sini's mailer features a photograph of Toulon and says, "VOTE THE SINI/TOULON TEAM."

Toulon told Newsday he has not endorsed any political candidate in the Nov. 2 elections in order to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest or politicization of his role as a top county law enforcement official.

Toulon, who is seeking reelection, said he was not consulted about the mailer.

"I'm just very disappointed because — I'll tell you why — I'm running the campaign the best I can, and this is a situation I did not put myself in," Toulon told Newsday.

Sini’s campaign manager, Logan Gershon, defended the mailer.

Gershon said both Sini and Toulon are running for reelection on the Democratic Party line, even if they "do not make political endorsements" as law enforcement officials.

"Tim Sini has not endorsed Errol Toulon, and Errol has not endorsed Tim Sini," Gershon said in a statement.

"However, they are both running on the same ballot line, Row A, and our campaign encourages folks to vote on our ballot line," Gershon said. "This is standard practice in politics."

Sini is facing a challenge from former federal prosecutor Ray Tierney, who is running on the Conservative and Republican party lines.

Toulon, who has the Democratic and Conservative lines, is running against Republican William Amato, who is not actively campaigning for office.

Toulon's campaign is run by the county Democratic committee, while Sini has maintained a separate campaign operation.

Toulon said he has avoided endorsing candidates because the sheriff’s office had experienced problems with politicization in the past.

He cited the 2016 conviction of former Suffolk Conservative Party leader Edward Walsh for illegally collecting more than $200,000 in pay from the Suffolk sheriff’s department while golfing, gambling and politicking on county time.

By Rachelle Blidner

rachelle.blidner@newsday.com@rachelleblidner

Rachelle Blidner covers Suffolk County government, politics and breaking news.