Thomas Suozzi

Thomas R. Suozzi (born August 31, 1962) was the County Executive of Nassau County, New York, from 2002 to 2009. He was first elected to the post in 2001, the first Democratic county executive since Eugene Nickerson left office in 1971. In 2006, he ran unsuccessfully against Eliot Spitzer for the Democratic nomination for Governor of New York. Suozzi was narrowly defeated for re-election in 2009 by Republican nominee Ed Mangano, and in a rematch in 2013 was again defeated, this time by a much larger margin of 59% to 41%.

Early/personal life

The son of former Glen Cove mayor Joseph Suozzi, Tom Suozzi was born on August 31, 1962 in Glen Cove. His father was born in Italy and his mother has Irish and English-born ancestors. The youngest of five siblings, he graduated from Chaminade High School, Boston College, and Fordham University School of Law, all Roman Catholic schools.

Tom Suozzi and his wife, Helene, have three children.

Political life

Mayor of Glen Cove

In 1993, Suozzi was elected as the youngest Mayor of Glen Cove. He served in that capacity for four terms, ending in 2001. In 2001, Suozzi ran for County Executive. Democratic Party bosses long favored Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli, but Suozzi prevailed in the primary and was elected to Nassau County Executive, the first Democrat in that office since Eugene Nickerson left it in 1971, and just the second Democrat in the post-World War II era. Suozzi was re-elected as County Executive in 2005, defeating his Republican rival, Greg Peterson, 59%-38% on November 8, 2005.