Steve Stern Endorsed For Congress By Bellone, Petrone
/By Fran Evans
fevans@longislandergroup.com
Suffolk Legislator Steve Stern, sitting right, and County Executive Steve Bellone, sitting left, are pictured in 2014 after Stern’s Housing Our Homeless Heroes Act was signed into law. This week, Bellone endorsed Stern in his primary run for the Third Congressional District seat.
Suffolk County Legislator Steve Stern (D-Dix Hills) continues to garner support in his primary run for the Third Congressional District seat with endorsements this week from Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and Huntington Town Supervisor Frank Petrone.
The announcement came on the heels of endorsements from the Huntington Town Democratic Committee, Suffolk County Democratic Chairman Rich Schaffer, Suffolk Legislator Lou D’Amaro (D-Huntington Station) and Legislator William “Doc” Spencer (D-Centerport), and Huntington Councilwoman Tracey Edwards and Councilwoman Susan Berland.
In announcing his endorsement, Bellone said Stern is the right choice to succeed Rep. Steve Israel (D-Huntington) because he shares the same values of fighting for middle class families, veterans and the environment.
In the April 15, Federal Election Commission filing, Stern filed with more than $500,000, raising more than the other candidates in the race. He also has $445,000 on hand, and released his first ad which focuses on equal pay for women, funding for Planned Parenthood and standing up to Tea Party extremists.
As Democratic candidates continue to fight for an edge in the June 28 primary for the Third Congressional District, former North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman filed specific objections to the petitions of Thomas Suozzi, the former Glen Cove Mayor and Nassau County Executive.
Kaiman’s campaign manager Jeff Guillot said that candidates need 1,250 valid signatures from enrolled Democrats on petitions to run for Congress. Suozzi did not submit the required number of valid signatures, he said, and thus is not eligible to run for congress.
“The law is clear and the math is simple,” Guillot said.
Kaiman’s first quarter FEC filings reveal he raised $242,379.00 and spent $53,073.18 leaving $189,305.82 on hand.
Mike Florio, Suozzi 2016 campaign manager said the campaign is reviewing the petitions now.
He added, “Tom Suozzi’s petitions are good and these sad attempts by his opponents to distract voters from the real issues facing our district and country, such as college affordability support for our seniors and veterans, and the struggles of middle-class families are straight out of the Republican playbook.”
Suozzi, raised $451,306.07 between Jan. 19, 2016 when he filed his congressional campaign committee, through March 31, 2016. He reported expenditures of $76,960.09 and has $374,345.98 on hand.
He said, “People are investing in my campaign because I have a proven record of going up against the status quo to get things done. They know that’s what Washington, D.C. needs these days.”
North Hempstead Councilwoman Anna Kaplan has raised $445,000, with the lion’s share of donors living in the Long Island-New York City region. Her campaign manager Reginald Johnson said she is out meeting and talking to people every day.
He added, “These are the people that know Anna Kaplan’s record the best – supporters who have firsthand knowledge of her standing up for marriage equality, affordable housing for seniors and leading the way in making local parks and playgrounds safer and cleaner for everyone to enjoy.”
