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Steve Levy (politician)
Encyclopedia
Steven A. Levy is the seventh County Executive
of Suffolk County
, New York
, elected on November 4, 2003. Originally a fiscally conservative Democrat
, Levy joned the Republican Party
in an unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination for governor
.
. Along with his brother and sister, he was raised in Holbrook, New York
by his father Andrew Levy, who owned a Brooklyn appliance store, and his mother, Marie Cavalcante Levy. His father was Jewish, descended from immigrants from Alsace-Lorraine
, and his mother was Italian American and Catholic. He is a graduate of Sachem High School
in Holbrook (1977), the State University of New York at Stony Brook
(1981, magna cum laude) and St. John's University School of Law
(1984). Levy married Colleen West on December 2, 1994, at St. Ann's Episcopal Church in Sayville, New York
and they live in Bayport, New York
with her children Shannon and Erin.
Legislature
where he served for 15 years (1985–2000). In 2000, he was elected to the New York State Assembly
, where he represented the 5th Assembly District from 2001 to 2003.
Levy, a Democrat who describes himself as fiscally conservative, ran for the office of Suffolk County Executive in 2003. He opposed Republican Edward Romaine. Levy entered office in 2004 and continues to serve as County Executive. On November 6, 2007, he was overwhelmingly re-elected to a second term with cross-endorsement and receiving 96% of the vote.
On February 25, 2010, Levy launched a campaign website for governor.
Levy has promoted strict anti-immigrant policies and has supported employer verification efforts and restrictions on drivers licenses for illegal immigrants. In the wake of the November 2008 murder of Marcelo Lucero
, an Ecuador
ian illegal immigrant, in Suffolk County, Levy described the killing as not "a question of any county policy or legislation," but "a question of bad people doing horrific things."
and Buffalo developer Carl Paladino
for the party nomination. Though he changed his voter registration to the Republican Party, this change came after the deadline for making such a change, and for legal purposes, Levy remained a Democrat until November 2010, with the registration change taking effect after Election Day.
Levy's platform focused on getting the state's financial house in order and reining in spending while decreasing property taxes. He also called for the creation of an independent control board, much like the ones formed by the state for counties who are in financial crisis, to help address New York's fiscal woes.
Despite the support of state Republican chairman Edward F. Cox
, Levy failed to gain the necessary support at the New York State Republican Convention for a Wilson Pakula
, the document necessary for non-party members to seek a party's nomination. Authorizing such a document requires a majority weighted vote of the attending members of the party; Levy only received 42 percent, which barred him from entering the Republican primary, either by nomination or by petition. As a result, Levy was eliminated from the race.
On March 24, 2011, Steve Levy announced that he would not seek re-election to a third term as Suffolk County Executive.
County executive
A county executive is the head of the executive branch of government in a county. This position is common in the United States.The executive may be an elected or an appointed position...
of Suffolk County
Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, elected on November 4, 2003. Originally a fiscally conservative Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, Levy joned the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
in an unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination for governor
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
.
Personal life
Steve Levy was born in Glendale, QueensGlendale, Queens
Glendale is a neighborhood in the west-central portion of the borough of Queens in New York City. It is bounded by Cooper Avenue to the north, Woodhaven Boulevard to the east, Myrtle Avenue to the south and Fresh Pond Road to the West...
. Along with his brother and sister, he was raised in Holbrook, New York
Holbrook, New York
Holbrook is a hamlet and census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 27,512 at the 2000 Census.-Geography:Holbrook is located at ....
by his father Andrew Levy, who owned a Brooklyn appliance store, and his mother, Marie Cavalcante Levy. His father was Jewish, descended from immigrants from Alsace-Lorraine
Alsace-Lorraine
The Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine was a territory created by the German Empire in 1871 after it annexed most of Alsace and the Moselle region of Lorraine following its victory in the Franco-Prussian War. The Alsatian part lay in the Rhine Valley on the west bank of the Rhine River and east...
, and his mother was Italian American and Catholic. He is a graduate of Sachem High School
Sachem School District
Sachem Central School District is one of the largest school districts by population on Long Island and among all suburban school districts in New York, United States. Founded in 1955, the district now encompasses residents of the Census-Designated Places of Holbrook, Holtsville and Farmingville, as...
in Holbrook (1977), the State University of New York at Stony Brook
State University of New York at Stony Brook
The State University of New York at Stony Brook, also known as Stony Brook University, is a public research university located in Stony Brook, New York, on the North Shore of Long Island, about east of Manhattan....
(1981, magna cum laude) and St. John's University School of Law
St. John's University School of Law
St. John's University School of Law is a Roman Catholic law school in Queens, New York City, affiliated with St. John's University. The School of Law was founded in 1925, and confers Juris Doctor degrees and degrees for Master of Laws in Bankruptcy and Master of Laws in U.S. Studies. Over 13,000 St...
(1984). Levy married Colleen West on December 2, 1994, at St. Ann's Episcopal Church in Sayville, New York
Sayville, New York
Sayville is a hamlet and CDP in Suffolk County, New York, . Located on the south shore of Long Island in the Town of Islip, the population of the CDP was 16,735 at the time of the 2000 census.-History:...
and they live in Bayport, New York
Bayport, New York
Bayport is the name of a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York, U.S. on Long Island. The population was 8,662 at the 2000 census.Bayport is in the southeast part of the Town of Islip.-Geography:...
with her children Shannon and Erin.
Politics
In 1984, he was elected to the Suffolk CountySuffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
Legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
where he served for 15 years (1985–2000). In 2000, he was elected to the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
, where he represented the 5th Assembly District from 2001 to 2003.
Levy, a Democrat who describes himself as fiscally conservative, ran for the office of Suffolk County Executive in 2003. He opposed Republican Edward Romaine. Levy entered office in 2004 and continues to serve as County Executive. On November 6, 2007, he was overwhelmingly re-elected to a second term with cross-endorsement and receiving 96% of the vote.
On February 25, 2010, Levy launched a campaign website for governor.
Levy has promoted strict anti-immigrant policies and has supported employer verification efforts and restrictions on drivers licenses for illegal immigrants. In the wake of the November 2008 murder of Marcelo Lucero
Marcelo Lucero
Marcelo Lucero is a Chilean footballer currently playing for Curicó Unido of the Primera B Chilena.-Teams: O'Higgins 2005-2006 Rangers 2007-2008 Provincial Osorno 2009 Curicó Unido 2010–present...
, an Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
ian illegal immigrant, in Suffolk County, Levy described the killing as not "a question of any county policy or legislation," but "a question of bad people doing horrific things."
2010 New York Governor's race
On March 19, 2010, Levy announced that he would seek the Republican Party's nomination for New York Governor, competing with former New York Congressman Rick LazioRick Lazio
Enrico Anthony "Rick" Lazio is a former U.S. Representative from the state of New York. Lazio became well known nationally when he ran against Hillary Rodham Clinton for the U.S. Senate in New York's 2000 Senate election...
and Buffalo developer Carl Paladino
Carl Paladino
Carl Pasquale Paladino is an American businessman and political activist from Buffalo, New York. Paladino is the founder and chairman of Ellicott Development Company, a real estate development company he founded in 1973. He was the 2010 Republican nominee for the New York gubernatorial election,...
for the party nomination. Though he changed his voter registration to the Republican Party, this change came after the deadline for making such a change, and for legal purposes, Levy remained a Democrat until November 2010, with the registration change taking effect after Election Day.
Levy's platform focused on getting the state's financial house in order and reining in spending while decreasing property taxes. He also called for the creation of an independent control board, much like the ones formed by the state for counties who are in financial crisis, to help address New York's fiscal woes.
Despite the support of state Republican chairman Edward F. Cox
Edward F. Cox
Edward Ridley Finch Cox , is the chairman of the New York Republican State Committee and the son-in-law of the late President Richard M. Nixon. Cox is a lawyer in the Manhattan law firm of Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP where he has served as the Chairman of the Corporate Department and a...
, Levy failed to gain the necessary support at the New York State Republican Convention for a Wilson Pakula
Wilson Pakula
A Wilson Pakula is an authorization given by a political party to a candidate for public office in the State of New York which allows a candidate not registered with that party to run as its candidate in a given election....
, the document necessary for non-party members to seek a party's nomination. Authorizing such a document requires a majority weighted vote of the attending members of the party; Levy only received 42 percent, which barred him from entering the Republican primary, either by nomination or by petition. As a result, Levy was eliminated from the race.
On March 24, 2011, Steve Levy announced that he would not seek re-election to a third term as Suffolk County Executive.