The following are profiles on Tom Spota, the Democratic candidate for Suffolk County District Attorney and Bill Rebolini, a district court judge who is a Democratic candidate for Suffolk Surrogate Court.

Spota

Background

Age 59 and married with three children. Resident of Mt. Sinai for 30 years. Law degree from St. John’s university and an attorney in private practice specializing in personal injury and representing police unions.

On the Campaign

It will be a fair campaign. The primary issue will be the intemperate use of the grand jury system and whether Catterson has used his office to go after his enemies and looked aside when his friends were in trouble.

The District Attorney Functions/Plans with the Office if elected.

To prosecute crime where crime should be prosecuted and protect the rights of the innocent. We need to convert the office into a level playing field. If elected, I plan to restore confidence to the office and not to micro-manage the staff. I will review personnel in the office and make personnel evaluations. We need to bring people into the office who are former prosecutors, with defense experience. These people have a better perspective on what a case is all about.

Positives of the D.A.’s Office

There are great attorneys and prosecutors. The homicide bureau has a lot of good talent and does a great job on the environment.

Re: Sheriff Pat Mahoney

Catterson over-indicted the Sheriff and Under-Sheriff. There is no question that we’ve discovered that they used the office for political purposes. The level of their actions never rose to a 90-count indictment. There is too much personal animosity in this case.

How The Race Will be Won or Lost

By reviewing the Catterson record and getting the message throughout the County, I need to raise quite a bit of money and speak to people in all the Towns.

Rebolini

Background

Age 44, single with two children. Law degree from Hofstra University. Huntington Councilman 1988-1993 and District Court Judge since 1993. Adjunct Associate Professor of Business Law.

Qualifications

I have eight years experience on the Bench. I’ve worked very hard with the volume of cases I’ve had. There are 13,000 cases yearly in the Surrogate’s Court. I have the ability to control calendars, move cases along and streamline efforts.

Successes as a Councilman

Balancing the budget in Huntington and avoiding a crisis, land preservation (i.e.; Froehlich Farm). I was a watchdog for the people, helped to start the environmental recycling program and insisted on night office hours.

Why this is an Important

Race/Plans if Elected

If people are concerned about their estates and who is overseeing their assets after passing, this race should be taken seriously. I’m computer literate and have the ability to put all proceedings on a website. I will look to ensure cost-effectiveness if elected and will ensure that the office is consumer friendly.

The Conservative Primary

I ran before as a district court judge with Conservative endorsement in 1993. I look forward to a relationship with the Conservative voters once again.

Other Activities

Secretary and a member of the Board of Directors of the Guide Dog Foundation and previously served on the Board of Directors of the Long Island Business Development Corporation. Former vice president of the Huntington Station Rotary. Former co-chairperson of the legal committee of the Sons of Italy Brumidi Lodge (Deer Park).