
11. Steve Bellone
2009 Power List
Bellone puts the “super” in supervisor. Many town supervisors enjoy fairly long tenures (Brookhaven aside) and some have the tendency to surround themselves with sycophants. Bellone chose to up the ante by surrounding himself with truly talented staffers with a knack for thinking outside the box, as evidenced by the Green Homes program. Babylon has been transformed into one of the most environmentally savvy towns in the state and continues to push the envelope in this respect—all the while maintaining a strong balance sheet. Personally, Bellone is likeable, humble and hard working. He will need all of these attributes as well as more time in office to finally move the needle in a community like Wyandanch, which serves as a constant reminder of the work that remains. Nevertheless, his deserved popularity makes him the one to watch among his colleagues. Higher office surely awaits, and he will probably have his pick when the time comes.