Suffolk County Executive-Elect Bellone Says Budget Top Priority

BABYLON, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Babylon town supervisor Steve Bellone walked into work with a round of applause Wednesday morning, a day after being elected the next Suffolk County executive.

LISTEN: 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera reports

Bellone, a Democrat, took the county's highest elected office with 57 percent of the vote to 43 percent for Republican challenger, treasurer Angie Carpenter, according to unofficial results.

WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs With Bellone

"We've had a lot of mornings after elections, but none quite like this," Bellone told his staff Wednesday morning.

Bellone says he'll bring a conciliatory approach to Suffolk's top job.

"What we've seen in this county is constant battles," he said.

Bellone says his priorities will be the Suffolk County budget and overhauling the police and health departments.

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