Bellone, Carpenter spar at tense debate

Suffolk's county executive hopefuls took direct aim at each other's economic development visions Tuesday night, creating one of the few tense moments in their debates so far.

At a League of Women Voters of Suffolk County debate in Central Islip, Babylon supervisor Steve Bellone again touted his town being "on the verge" of choosing a developer for the 60-acre, $500-million "Wyandanch Rising" redevelopment project.

The Democrat mentioned 10 years of planning that got the town to that point, prompting his Republican opponent, Angie Carpenter, to retort, "What has been accomplished?"

"You're just putting hopes out there that aren't going to be realized," said Carpenter, the county treasurer.

Bellone has largely avoided directly criticizing Carpenter at past debates. But he told the roughly 150 people in attendance at Touro Law Center that "what you just heard is what's wrong with politics today."

"Short-term thinking, short-term planning," he said.

Carpenter, the first woman to run for county executive on Long Island, offered a comparison, saying she had concrete plans to speed the permitting process and realize development projects. "Government needs to be there when you truly need it," she said. "Not get in the way, and certainly not get in your pocket book."

Last night's debate, a week before Election Day, was shortened by an hour to accommodate a later appearance by Bellone. At least one more debate is planned. But the candidates, who have come together in forums or debates about a dozen times, honed their messages.

For Bellone, who stood each time he replied to a question, the message is touting how Babylon lowered its debt and reducing the size of its government since he became supervisor in 2002. For Carpenter, the message is noting her county-specific experience -- first as a legislator for 12 years and then as treasurer -- coupled with years of running a printing business prior.

Like previous debates, the candidates knocked County Executive Steve Levy's 2012 budget proposal that calls for more than 700 layoffs, but this time offered a bit more detail on how they'd try to close an estimated $135 million shortfall.

Bellone said he'd support "one shots," referring to one-time revenue generators such as the sale of county properties that legislators have proposed. Carpenter said she'd study ways to draw revenue from underutilized county assets like Francis S. Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach.

She said government efficiency is best achieved by making more services available directly to residents, and criticized Bellone's data-driven plans and his placement of GPS in Babylon vehicles as "big brother watching."

"If you developed a model for government, you don't need GPS in vehicles," she said.

Bellone responded that government, like businesses, need metrics to measure performance.

"Unlike the private sector, there is nothing driving efficiency in government," he said. "There is no bottom line. . . . You have to create accountability structures."