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With no major party challenge, S.C. Exec. Levy looks to govern Democratic County Executive Steve Levy stands virtually uncontested in November, having received the endorsement of not only his own party but also of the Republicans as well. But the cross-endorsement leaves some "X-factors" for politicians to ponder for November. Though the popular Levy's own election would appear assured, he still remains a major figure in the battle for the Suffolk County Legislature, where the Democrats hold a razor-thin 10-8 majority. Suffolk Democratic Chairman Richard Schaffer said Levy would be out campaigning for every Democratic candidate who wants his help. "He lives for this," Schaffer said. "Everyone wants to be on the Levy team." Suffolk Republican Chairman Harry Withers says his party's endorsement of Levy negates that. "For all intents and purposes, there is no Levy team because any Republican can vote for Levy on the Republican line," Withers said. "It was a calculated decision." He noted that because Levy's popularity figures were "off the charts" no potential Republican candidate with name identification wanted to run against him. That meant Levy's coattails would have helped carry the whole Democratic line with him in November, he said. Not only would the cross endorsement eliminate a one-sided race, Withers said, but it might keep the Democrats from increasing their majority on the legislature or even reverse it. Although he did not mention it, politicians generally believe lack of a contest at the top of the ticket tends to suppress votes in odd-numbered years when the turnout is below average anyway. So just how long are Levy's coattails? "Long indeed," Schaffer said. Levy himself said that he hopes to spend some more time governing now that he doesn't have to campaign for himself. "But I'm available to anyone who wants my help," he said. 'There are a lot of people who want to connect their name with mine and some who want to stay far away. That goes with the territory." Asked if Democratic Legislator Elie Mystal had asked him to campaign for him, Levy said "not at this point...but Elie is a very independent guy and he has a solid following in his own right. We did just have our picture taken together." Mystal, for his part, said he planned to campaign with Levy at some point during the upcoming campaign "It's only natural that I would work with him and he with me," Mystal said. That brings up another possible X-factor. Some political insiders in Babylon Town say that there are hints Mystal, who is considered generally to have a safe seat, might have some problems because of the emergence of an independent candidate, Ed White of Copiague, who will be on the ballot in November under the "For the People" banner. The Republican-Conservative candidate is Ed Brown of Amityville. Mystal is seeking his third term in the 15th Legislative District, which includes Amityville, Copiague, North Amityville, Wheatley Heights, Wyandanch, East Farmingdale and parts of North Lindenhurst.
Both Babylon Republican Chairman Anthony Pancella and County GOP Chairman Withers say it's difficult to asses what effect , if any, a third party candidate will have in the race. Pancella says he didn't think it made any difference "one way or the other." Withers said that because people signed White's nominating petitions for the primary "doesn't automatically mean they're going to vote for them." Running under the Green Party banner is Ahmad Ali Mitchell-El. Libertarians placed Estelle Edwards on the line while Peter Busacca is running on the Integrity Party line. Levy is running on the Democratic, Republican, Conservatie and Working Families lines.
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