The Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association is endorsing Ed Romaine for county executive — marking the first time in over a decade the union has backed a Republican for the position.
Suffolk County law enforcement officials will be holding a rally and endorsement ceremony for Romaine at PBA headquarters in Brentwood on Friday morning, according to PBA President Noel DiGerolamo.
“This is a huge boost to my campaign,” Romaine told The Post on Thursday.
“I have the endorsement of all law enforcement because of my support for law enforcement and my commitment to keeping the county safe,” he said.
He will face off against Democrat David Calone, a former federal prosecutor and businessman who has never held elected office.
Romaine, a former teacher, has served as Brookhaven Town Supervisor for the past 11 years. He additionally served as Suffolk County Clerk for 16 years and as a Suffolk County legislator for 11 years.
“I have a record of winning. I govern the largest town in Suffolk town in Brookhaven. I’m pretty confident. I’m running to win,” he said.
Romaine’s endorsement is the first by the Suffolk County PBA at least 11 years, DiGerolamo told The Post, citing recent law enforcement reforms introduced by Democrats as the catalyst for the change.
“We have known and worked with Ed Romaine for many years, we know that he is pro-law enforcement individual who is adamantly opposed to the lunacy going on in our state right now between bail reform and stripping the rights of our law enforcement professionals with the repeal of 50a,” he said, referring to a former state law that shielded police disciplinary records from the public.
“It’s very difficult for a law enforcement agency to support Democrats who continue to pass laws to handcuff law enforcement and support criminals,” he said,
But DiGerolamo noted that it was “easy” to support outgoing Democratic Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone “given his history.”
Bellone has held the office since 2012.