Dave Calone announces candidacy for Suffolk County executive

Former federal and state prosecutor Dave Calone announced his candidacy last week to be the next Suffolk County executive. Current county executive Steve Bellone is term limited and will leave office at the end of 2023.

“I’m running for county executive to make sure that everyone benefits from the same kind of opportunities that I have enjoyed growing up and living in Suffolk County. I’m eager to get to work for the people of Suffolk, to enable everyone to have the chance to get a good-paying job, to protect our clean air and water, to help families afford to live here, and to create safe, thriving communities,” said Calone.

He served as both a federal and New York State prosecutor, where he prosecuted corporate fraud and terrorism and helped negotiate what was at the time the largest health care fraud recovery for taxpayers in state history. He is currently a business leader who helps start and build technology companies on Long Island and around the country. Calone served as chair of the Suffolk County Planning Commission for eight years, where he spearheaded the creation of Suffolk County’s 2035 Comprehensive Master Plan. His work supporting renewable energy through unified solar permitting won Suffolk County a National Association of Counties Achievement Award. He co-founded the Suffolk County Forward program, the county’s initiative to support local small businesses and workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and he served as chair of Suffolk County’s Superstorm Sandy Review Task Force. Calone also created the Long Island Emerging Technologies Fund to help launch new companies based on innovations at Long Island’s research institutions, and was the founding National Board chair of Patriot Boot Camp, a not-for-profit that helps veterans, active-duty service members and military spouses to start small businesses.

Calone, a Democrat, has received the endorsement of RWDSU/UFCW Local 338, Iron Workers Local 361, IBEW Local 1049, and the New York State Iron Workers District Council. Also endorsing Calone at the start of the campaign are Long Island leaders: John Durso (president of RWDSU/UFCW Local 338), New York State assemblyman Steve Englebright, Suffolk County Legislature minority leader Jason Richberg, Suffolk County Legis. Kara Hahn, Southampton Town councilmember John Bouvier, and Brookhaven Town councilmember Jonathan Kornreich.

Calone lives in Setauket with his wife, a Presbyterian minister, and three children.