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Longstanding pact for “clean” campaigns in Babylon still in place as election season '08 nears
large political signs during campaign season and bumper stickers on every telephone and LIPA poll from Amityville to the eastern most town line. Many of those signs stayed in place long after the candidates either lost their bid for election or moved on to other things. "It was inconsistent for us as political leaders to continue to allow that kind of thing to happen," said Babylon Town Democratic leader Robert Stricoff. "I think the public is very sophisticated and expected more of us," said Harry Withers, the County GOP leader who was the Town leader at the time. "They wanted campaigns that were about the issues." Today, the informal agreement remains in place and residents can expect this year's election season to be relatively "litter free." That's not to say that the candidates and their parties will not be out there working to get their message to the voters. It's just that they believe there are other and better ways to do it. One way is to put their financial resources into the right races. At both the Town and County level, the major parties have done their homework, conducting polls and evaluating all of the candidates in an effort to assess where their likely successes might lie and where their opponents have either a decided political advantage or are on the right side of the major issues. Republicans, for example, cross endorsed S.C. Exec. Steve Levy, a Democrat they said scores high from their perspective on all the important issues. "He (Levy) is in general support of the Republican position on taxes and immigration," said With- ers, as he fielded calls from candidates, monitored the last-minute petition filings and finalized a printing for the party's annual Lobsterfest later this month from his office in Bohemia. "He took on (Assembly Leader Sheldon) Silver and the Democratic caucus over the issue of a hiring hall for illegal immigrants." "When it comes to Republican-Conservative issues such as taxes and immigration, Levy is on the same page," agreed Babylon Town Republican Leader Anthony Pancella. "He's right to many Republicans I know, so supporting him was a no brainer." On the Democratic side, Republican Senator Owen Johnson has more than once received the support of the Democrats who did not run a candidate against him. "From my standpoint, I am grateful that the Republicans recognize our candidates like Levy and (Suffolk DA Thomas) Spota," said Richard Schaffer, the Suffolk County Democratic Leader. "And in turn, we recognize officials like Owen who are there working every day for the public, Republicans and Democrats." "I guess it comes down to who the players are," said Town Supervisor Bellone in explaining how, to some extent, Babylon Town and Suffolk have managed over the past decade to bring a civility to political campaigns. "When you have political leaders and public officials who are open minded and willing to listen, you can get a lot more done for the public. The nonsense that goes on at the State and National level certainly points to what happens when politics are put before people." Beyond the lure of philosophical alliances and working for the public good there is, however a political strategy at the local level that gives impetus to this kind of pliable politics. "We had to consider our candidates down the ballot," said Withers when explaining some of the reasons his party did not offer Levy a challenge for reelection this year. "With his poll numbers so high, we were concerned with where voters would go after pulling the lever for him." "It comes down to a question of saving resources for the competitive races," said Schaffer. "In Brookhaven and Islip we never saw the opportunity for them and now for the first time in generations, we see them. While I respect those who say we are losing our competitive edge, I have to ask where are we going to make the difficult decision of where to put our resources? That is my job as party leader." Allocating resources wisely is even more critical for Babylon Town Republicans who once hosted more than 2000 supporters at a fundraiser at the Huntington Town House. In 1987, when they lost the majority at Town Hall, their power-and their ability to raise money-tumbled with them. "You have to consider the power of the incumbency and the ability of the party in power to raise money," explained Pancella. "For us it is even more important to allocate our limited resources wisely. We have great candidates, but unless we can get the message out, it doesn't mean anything."
Just don't look for those messages on billboards or telephone poles.
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