Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, one of New York’s top suburban Democrats who has also benefited from billionaire Michael Bloomberg’s largesse, on Monday endorsed the former three-term New York City mayor for president.
Bloomberg made two donations totaling $93,349 for Bellone’s re-election campaigns in 2015 and 2017.
Bellone, a moderate, was handily re-elected to a third-term as county executive last month.
Suffolk is considered a key swing-county in the state. But President Trump carried the Long Island county by eight points over Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016.
Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who won re-election to a third term last year, carried Suffolk by five points over Republican challenger Marc Molinaro.
Bellone told The Post last month he was bullish on Bloomberg’s presidential bid and welcomed him to the race — all but endorsing him.
“I am proud to endorse Mike Bloomberg for President because our country needs to get back in the business of getting things done. As the mayor of the largest city in the country, Mike earned a reputation as a problem solver who took on the tough fights — and won,” Bellone said in a statement released by the Bloomberg campaign.
“This moment in our nation calls for a leader who can bring people together to address the real challenges we face here at home and abroad. We need someone who can win key suburban counties like Suffolk County that swung from Obama to Trump. Mike is the best candidate to lead our country forward.”
Bellone, like Bloomberg, has sought to address climate change. He also replicated New York City’s 311 citizen complaint program — initiated when Bloomberg was mayor — in Suffolk County government. The two have also worked together on pension reform in Albany.
The Bellone endorsement shows that Bloomberg, who has a residence in Suffolk’s Southampton, won’t have a problem getting some star-power backing on his home turf in New York. It also shows that former Vice President and front-runner Joe Biden will have to compete with Bloomberg to line up moderate Democrats behind him — at least in New York, which holds its primary on April 28.
