'It's A New Day In Suffolk': New County Executive Ed Romaine Sworn In

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — A large crowd gathered on New Year's Day as new Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine was sworn into office.

The inauguration ceremony, held at Eastport-South Manor Junior Senior High School in Manorville, brought out a sea of elected officials, supporters, family and friends to cheer on Romaine, a Republican who won the race in November against opponent Dave Calone to replace outgoing Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, a Democrat.

After being sworn into office and the official signing of the oath, Romaine thanked the many gathered.

"It's a new day in Suffolk County," he said. Romaine said he takes office with a great advantage. "I had a great transition team that is still working. I want to thank Kevin Law and Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter for heading up that team. They have outlined policies and procedures that are going to guide us over the next four years — they truly are a blueprint for this county's future."

He added: "As I take this job, I know that there will be more problems than solutions, more to be done than has been done, more quests than conquests. But it's only by not trying that we lose," he said.

Romaine said he stands on the shoulders of those who came before him; he is the ninth Suffolk County Executive and worked with seven of the last eight. The only supervisor with whom he did not work with was H. Lee Dennison, the first. But his desk, from 1961, remains in the building, he said.

"Our path must be based on the experiences of past administrations while still being willing to find our own path and reinvent county government," he said. "This administration will be rooted in the values and traditions of hard work, personal initiative and accountability, so we can build a future that is safe and more affordable, and provides hope and opportunity to our citizens. This is the promise that Suffolk needs to keep to this generation and the next."

He added that "as we cast new eyes on old problems," he will look to reorganize county government, to consolidate services whenever possible, to improve efficiency and make the government "far more cost-effective than it has been."

As county executive, Romaine said it will be his job to provide the county's work force with the tools and funding needed to deliver government services and infrastructure "that we can be proud of."

He also aims to provide a greater degree of accountability in the operation of county government, Romaine said. "To do this, the legislature and the county executive must work together."

As a longtime legislator himself, Romaine said he believes that the 18 members are his partners in government and a strong relationship with them is vital.

Romaine said it his responsibility to address the key issues to "wrest the element of choice from the pressure of circumstance whenever possible to ensure that common sense options are considered and enacted."

Romaine then listed his priorities.

County finances

First, he said, he said a top priority will be straightening out county finances and crafting a structurally balanced budget. In 2019, Romaine said, the New York State comptroller judged the financial viability of the 62 counties in New York State. "We placed 61st," Romaine said. Since that time, he said, the county has endured the pandemic and, due to an infusion of federal funding, "We're in a far better place today. But that is a warning sign that we should take to heart that our finances are not always stable."

Most of the county's finances are subject to the "yo-yo effect"of good and bad times posed by sales tax revenue. Romaine said he does not plan to divert money from the quarter percent fund, which he sponsored in 1987, to address sewage, "as has been done in the past." The county is still facing litigation over such diversions of funding, he said.

"I do plan to help my partners in the county legislature to create reserve funds for future anticipated expenses," Romaine said. "I do plan whenever possible to pay low level capital expenses from reserves. I do plan to reduce the county's debt. And finally, I do plan to work with the county legislature to develop structurally balanced budgets. It's my hope to improve the county's bond rating and save the taxpayers money."

County's IT breakdown

Romaine also said a priority is to deal with the "breakdown of the county's information technology structure which, unfortunately, affected every aspect of county government." That time, he said, "is now over. We will prioritize cybersecurity and obtaining cyberinsurance. We will prioritize moving our data center to the Cloud" and remain vigilant, he said.

He said the county awaits the findings of the legislative committee looking into the September, 2022 "hack." Today, Romaine said, he "appointed an active IT commissioner to set us in the right direction and to respect the independence of my four elected countywide officials."

That commissioner's name will be released this week, Mike Martino, a media representative for Romaine, said after the meeting.

New police commissioner search

Romaine said he plans to give law enforcement, including police, the district attorney, the sheriff and the probation department the tools and funding needed to "effectively and responsibly do their jobs."

Knowledgeable leadership in the police department is also needed, he said; the police force must also be provided with more detectives, he said.

Romaine said he, Carpenter and Law and others are working to find a new police commissioner. Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison resigned in November.

Change in Thomas Valva's name

Romaine said he is also serious about the need to improve the county's Child Protective Services. He pointed to his grandson who, he said, "sat next to a young boy in third grade called Thomas Valva. That lesson is never lost on me. It's one of the failures of government today. And I am going to work very hard to make sure that we have a system that does not fail another child."

Valva froze to death in his father's garage in 2020; his father Michael Valva and Valva's then fiance Angela Pollina were both found guilty and sentenced to 25 years to life for their abuse of Thomas and his brother, who were both starved, sent to school in urine-soaked clothes, and left in the frigid garage with no blankets or warm bedding. Thomas' mother Justyna Zubko-Valva filed a $200 million lawsuit and demanded to know why county CPS workers failed to respond to her desperate cries for help in the face of the "severe abuse" her boys suffered.

Parking violations overhaul

The parking violations bureau needs to be streamlined, Romaine said. "This is a bureau that needs a better sense of what justice is all about and has to act with justice in mind and not producing revenue, which is my major concern. I am not interested in nickel-and-diming our citizens with things like that."

Romaine said his long list of "to-dos" also includes cleaning the county's surface and groundwaters; as well as securing funding for sewers and alternative wastwater systems; preserving open space and farmland to prevent overdevelopment; reducing costs through consolidation and shared services; working to promote affordable workforce housing; "and fighting for our fair share, which we have not gotten, of federal state aid while eliminating unfunded state mandates."

He added: "We live on an island. We understand some of the challenges of living on this island." Romaine said he plans to work closely with Nassau County officials as well as town supervisors and boards on regional issues such as solid waste disposal on Long Island.

"We have to work regionally on the impact of climate change," Romaine added. "It should be evident to all that in a rising tide people that live on islands should take notice."

Work is needed on environmental issues, he added. "Making sure that the promise so many of us had, that the life so many of us have, that we enjoy, is not lost by destroying our environment."

Romaine said work is needed on rail and freight transportation, suggesting that the 1 percent of freight moved by rail be increased, to decrease traffic on roads. "We have to solve traffic problems," he said. "Try going to Southampton! To Hampton Bays, with the trade parade on Sunrise Highway and County Road 39."

Dealing with cost =-efficient energy production is also paramount, he said.

"As I start my tenure as county executive, all of us should be asking, 'How does Long Island reshape itself for the 21st century?' We have great potential for growth, for an innovative economy, especially in the field of technology, clean energy and life science. But we need cooperation between all levels of local government in the region. We also need collaboration between the private and sectors."

He added: "We need to make this county more affordable for the people that live and work here, whether it's easing the burden of taxation on home heating fuel, making housing more affordable through innovative programs — we need to make sure that our county is affordable for our seniors, for our families, and for generations to come. We are all in this together."

There are many challenges, Romaine said. "However, I know my administration is eager to rise to these challenges. I am optimistic about the future of Suffolk County and Long Island. I can't wait to start the work of building a better Suffolk County. I hope all of you will join me in that effort."

Master of ceremonies John J. Flanagan emceed the ceremony, which included a vocal performance by Paige Patterson, presentation of the colors by the Rocky Point VFW Post 6249 led by Commander Joseph Cognitore, and a pipe band performance by the Suffolk County Police Department's Emerald Society Pipes and Drums.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Judge Pierce Fox Cohalan, veterans, and Romaine's grandchildren. Anna Lubitz led "The National Anthem" and the invocation was given by Rev. Patrick Riegger of St. John the Evangelist Church in Center Moriches. John Zollo also sang "America the Beautiful."

A video montage highlighted moments in Romaine's long and rich career, with the song "God Bless the U.S.A." playing.

Tributes were given by a number of elected officials including New York Senator Chuck Schumer.

"Today is a great day," he said. Schumer said he's worked closely with his good friend Romaine over the years. Schumer said Romaine's family moved to Long Island from Queens when he was sa child; he attended Adelphi University, got a masters from Long Island University and then, after graduating from college, "loved public service, right from the get-go." Romaine served as a public school teacher for 12 years and began his career in government in 1979 when asked to join Brookhaven Town as a part-time federal and state aid coordinator; he was then promoted to become the town's first commissioner of housing and community development, Schumer said. Five years later, he ran for Suffolk County Legislature, where he served two terms and then, 16 years as Suffolk County clerk.

He was later elected again to the legislature and served 11 years as Brookhaven Town supervisor, Schumer said.

No matter what his position, Romaine "always knew how to help people," Schumer said. "He worked hard and no one put a silver spoon in his mouth. Ed got here the old-fashioned way. He earned it."

Schumer said it was also a great day for Romaine's wife Diane, his stepdaughter Lisa and her husband Michael and their children Collin, Rylie and Charlotte Johnson.

"Thirdly, it's a great day for Suffolk County," Schumer said. "Suffolk County is a bastion of the middle class. People who don't ask for much, just want a decent life for themselves and maybe even a little better life for thei kids. Ed understands that instinctively. He came from there. He lives it, he breathes it."

There have been tough times —COVID, Superstorm Sandy, an economic crisis, Schumer said. "And we all know there's much more work to be done but Ed is prepared for that. You can see it in his record as a legislator," his work to protect waterways, drinking water, open space preservaton, and address helicopter noise. He discussed Romaine's work on resilience efforts after Sandy and much more.

"Suffolk County, you are getting great representation as your county executive," Schumer said. "Look who we are putting into office — somebody who will always put community first."

Next, Rep. Andrew Garbarino spoke, saying he's had a great partnership with Romaine for years. He added that he voted for the infrastructure bill and got some pushback and heat, but "Ed was one of the few people who had my back. I wouldn't be standing up here if it wasn't for his support." He also said he'd repay the favor and "get you as much money as you can possibly spend," in Washington, sparking applause.

Rep. Nick LaLota said his father used to say,"'Show me your friends and I'll tell you who you are.' I saw that slideshow and look into the crowd and see people from all different walks of life, labor leaders, government leaders, law enforcement, veterans, political leaders. You've built a tremendous amount of friends in this county. You've distinguished yourself in government and life. I'm hopeful for Suffolk County's future, because of your leadership — the relationships that you've built."

Newly elected Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico also spoke. He said Romaine was "not only a stellar representative, but also a person of impeccable character, a person who's dedicated his life to making other people's lives better."

Romaine is a mentor, he said. Romaine, he said, "is a person who is going to be probably one of the best county executives this county has ever seen, at the right time. . . A person who wants nothing for himself but wants to help other people."

He added that there was not another person in the room, elected or elected, who could "outwork this man. He puts his heart and soul into everything he does. We are all better that he is the new county executive."

Romaine's granddaughter Rylie Johnson then sang "God Bless America."