Meet Tom

THOMAS R. SUOZZI

"...a terrific problem solver and public servant in the best sense of the term."
-The New York Times

 

Tom Suozzi's never been very good at sitting still, but what he has been great at is finding solutions and solving problems. At a time when far too many politicians make things worse by passing the buck, Suozzi does the opposite--he tackles our problems with the intensity it takes to solve them. And he never backs down from a tough fight. And that has served Nassau well because when Tom took over the county, there were a lot of fights Nassau residents needed him to win.

Just days before Suozzi's inauguration as Nassau County Executive in 2002, the Maxwell School of Public Affairs rated Nassau as the "worst run" county in the nation. A county with a population bigger than 11 states and a budget greater than 11 states, Nassau's problems far eclipsed even its size.

Decades of machine politics had created monumental challenges that few thought could be overcome. Nassau's bond rating was a joke. Its government was bloated by rampant corruption and political patronage and its challenges were beyond daunting.

That's where Tom Suozzi came in.

An energetic reformer, attorney, certified public accountant and a former Mayor of Glen Cove, Tom had the energy, the experience , the drive and the vision to turn Nassau around. It wasn't easy and he didn't do it alone, but Tom helped created a movement of progress in Nassau that continues through today.

Tom brought strong management skills, fiscal discipline, compassion, and vision back to Nassau and took down the machine politics that caused Nassau's problems in the first place.

Renewing Nassau

"Suozzi led Nassau from the brink of bankruptcy to fiscal health in a matter of three years."
- Newsday

"...the ebullient Mr. Suozzi has made a career of defying expectations."
- Newsday

Within one year, Suozzi turned a $428 million deficit into a balanced budget, leading one of the most dramatic financial turnarounds in the country. Tom helped Nassau become the only county in the state not to raise taxes for 5 years in a row. Nassau received 13 bond upgrades in 5 years, more than any other county in the nation. Suozzi eliminated wasteful contracts, cut the size of county government to the smallest size in 30 years and worked with labor leaders to gain the historic concessions the county needed as a part of its fiscal recovery program.

Tackling the Tough Issues

"Suozzi is a political swashbuckler who wins upset victories by taking risks, breaking rules and tweaking the establishment..."
- NY Daily News

New Yorkers, and in particular Nassau County residents, pay some of the highest property taxes in the country.  Suozzi has made property tax relief a signature issue and was appointed to Chair a statewide commission on property taxes in January 2008. Suozzi, as Chair of the New York State Commission on Property Tax Relief, submitted a preliminary report to Governor David A. Paterson in June 2008 and a final report in December 2008. Governor Paterson said upon receiving this report: "The growth rate of property taxes in this state is unsustainable, especially for the elderly, working families and small businesses... I thank the Commission and Chairman Thomas Suozzi for their diligence over the past four months, and now it is time for the leadership of this state to act."

Environmental progress and green initiatives

"Suozzi is demonstrating a knack of making small but significant steps toward realizing his dream. Glen Cove is the only city in New York to win admission to the U.S. Enviromental Protection Agency's pilot brownfields program, and it beat out competition from more than 200 cities. Other politicians might take note. Sometimes, instead of sleeping, it might be better, perchance, to dream - and then to do."

- Newsday

Tom was named New York League of Conservation Voters Environmentalist of the Year in 2008 for "improving environmental quality." He launched an innovative campaign, Green Levittown, to turn Nassau, America's first suburb, into the nation's first "green suburb." This initiative was profiled in Time, The New York Times and on CNN and Good Morning America and was widely praised for being a unique and important local effort that showed that we can cope with climate change on a local level. Suozzi serves on the Executive Committee of Climate Communities, a national coalition of cities and counties that educates and promotes a local-federal partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Suozzi has turned Nassau County, the nation's first suburban community, into a model of fiscal responsibility, smart growth and sustainable development for the future.

Improving the Quality of Life

"Years from now, when historians write the history of Nassau County and America's other mature suburbs, they will note today's presentation by County Executive Suozzi as a turning point and milestone in the effort to preserve the suburbs."

- Robert D. Yaro, President of the Regional Planning Association

 

Suozzi was named Governing Magazine's 2005 Public Official of the Year for his innovative initiatives. He made county services more cost efficient and customer friendly by implementing a new No Wrong Door policy. The innovative program places all of Nassau's human service agencies under one roof and marries compassion with efficiency. Newsday commented, "By treating clients not like prisoners or freeloaders but people in real need, by determining their eligibility and getting them help faster, the county better serves its neediest elderly, kids, disabled, ill and poor."

Suozzi coined the term, New Suburbia, an innovative effort that targets smart growth to expand the tax base and enhances the quality of life. Newsday commented, "Tom Suozzi is still unchallenged in his ability to articulate a vision for a new suburbia. Suozzi's willingness to take risks and challenge conventional thinking helped get the project get this far".

Another Suozzi initiative, Common Sense for the Common Good unites groups from Planned Parenthood to Catholic Charities to reduce the number of abortions by focusing on the prevention of unintended pregnancies, housing, and adoption. A Washington Post editorial by EJ Dionne stated Suozzi "just might move the national abortion debate to more constructive ground."

Safest and Secure Community

With Tom's leadership, Nassau has become one of the safest places to live in the nation with over 500,000 residents. Nassau's crime rate is at a 30-year low.

Tom is a graduate of Chaminade High School and holds a bachelors degree from Boston College and a law degree from Fordham University. Prior to his life in public service he worked as a CPA for Arthur Anderson & Co and as an attorney for Shearman & Sterling, LLP.

Tom resides in his hometown of Glen Cove, NY with his wife Helene and their three children.