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Politics & Government

Giannott, Calarco Discuss Police Issues at Focus

John Giannott and Rob Calarco are running for an open seat in the 7th Legislative District.

County legislature candidates John Giannott and Rob Calarco recently attended a Focus E. Patchogue meeting at the Swan Lake Civic Association and responded to questions from the public.

Republican Giannott and Democrat Calarco, both new to the campaign trail with the hopes of replacing incumbent , who is not running for re-election, fielded concerns about the police department, from financial cuts to increased neighborhood safety.

“We have tons of waste in our district, our departments don’t speak to each other,” Giannott said. “We need to consolidate some of our departments and cut wasteful spending, then we can bring our levies back to where they were.”

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Calarco, whose Patchogue home was burglarized just weeks ago, said was prepared to discuss the prospect of more police cars patrolling the streets.

“Unfortunately we are experiencing an increase in home burglaries, and it’s something we need to get a handle on,” he said. “We can certainly work with the police department to get more cars in the area, and to make sure resources are available for that to happen.”

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Giannott, a graduate who now runs two Bellport businesses, said his main focus if elected would be to bring businesses back to the area because, he says, they can help with wiser financial decisions.

“The red tape is getting thicker and thicker," Giannott said. "I think it’s time to let the great politicians step aside and let some local business people step in." 

Calarco, Eddington's current chief of staff, plans to look into three areas- bringing jobs to Suffolk County, housing issues and developing an efficient government.

“There’s a real value in public service and that’s what inspired me, to be a part of offering solutions to the problems that we face,” he said. “Suffolk is becoming very unaffordable, and we have to find ways of retaining and keeping a strong, vibrant middle class so we can survive.”

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