Southampton - Hamptons.com has posed the following 10 questions to Suffolk County Executive candidates running in the upcoming November election.

Jobs, jobs, jobs! As Suffolk County Executive what initiatives would you take to create jobs in the county and do you support President Obama's American Jobs Act?

Steve Bellone: As the next County Executive, I will implement a Suffolk Innovation Agenda to create the nation's next "Research Triangle" right here in Suffolk County. My plan includes creating "Innovation Zones" to attract and retain high-tech businesses, making sure business have access to capital, investing in Suffolk County's workforce to make sure residents have the right job skills and innovating County government to make economic development the top priority. Brookhaven Town Supervisor Lesko started us down this path by establishing Accelerate Long Island, and my Suffolk Innovation Agenda will provide the tools to bring high paying, high tech jobs to Suffolk County.

It has been debated as to whether Suffolk County obtained an adequate share of the 2009 Stimulus Plan. According to U.S. Government figures, as of June 30 a little over $6 billion of the $17 billion awarded to the state has yet to be received. What is your plan to obtain Suffolk County's fair share when and if it is awarded?

SB: Suffolk County could have no better partners in the Federal delegation than Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, Congressman Israel and Congressman Bishop - all of whom are supporting my campaign for Suffolk County Executive. As County Executive, I will work closely with them to ensure Suffolk gets its fair share - and I will never hesitate to call on them when Suffolk's interests are at stake.

Do you support green initiatives like windmill farms for job creation and energy conservation? If so, would you consider county tax abatements for farmers on the East End who designate a portion of their acreage for windmill farming?

SB: Yes, I have a plan to create 1,000 green jobs during my first term, improving the model I established in Babylon where we have created green jobs through cutting edge programs like the Green Homes program that has been adopted by other Suffolk County towns. I am very interested in working with farmers and East End elected officials to see how the county can be a partner in expanding renewable energy and whether it can play a role in preserving farming as a way of life.

Budget deficits are inevitable in a struggling economy. The present economic recovery is very slow paced and may take years to be fully realized. If elected County Executive you will probably face your own budget deficits during your term in office. What options would and would not be on the table in your plan to close the gap?

SB: I have disagreed with County Executive Levy on a number of issues, but I agree with the freeze in general fund property taxes in his proposed budget. Suffolk today is in deep financial trouble, and economic growth is the fastest path to recovery. I have a strong fiscal record in Babylon of reducing debt every year, making government more efficient and reducing taxes for two consecutive years that will help me make Suffolk work.

Do you support continued funding for open land and farmland preservation and if so how would you generate the revenue necessary at the county level?

SB: Suffolk's natural beauty is one of our invaluable assets and I will continue being a proponent of open space preservation. In addition to protecting farmland, we need to do more to protect farming. It sounds small, but this is a significant distinction. Suffolk County has the most valuable crops in all of New York State and protecting fully operational farms will help us maintain that status. In order to have more resources to protect open space, we need to grow the economy and my Innovate Suffolk economic plan is the way forward.

As County Executive in what ways will you help the county's threatened commercial fishing industry?

SB: The county can help in a number of ways. The main reason Long Island's fishing community is hurting is because of poor data which has led to lower quotas for New York fishermen. I will work closely with our state and federal representatives to make sure we get better data and will be a loud advocate for our fair share of quota. I also want to make sure our Economic Development office is working to promote both eating local to assist on the commercial side and encourage tourism to assist on the recreation side.

With increased cuts in State and Federal funding for education, what is your plan for maintaining the high quality of education in Suffolk County? Is there a better way to fund education than the real property tax?

SB: Attracting more good, high-paying jobs to Suffolk County is not only important for our workforce, but it will also alleviate the tax burdens on middle class families and seniors in Suffolk. We cannot afford to have the "brain drain" continue after investing so much in educating our young people - and that means making gains on housing and job creation right away.

With some of the highest real estate prices in the nation young county residents, particularly East Enders must leave the area rather than raise families here, what will you do as County Executive to stem the exodus?

SB: Adequate housing is an issue all across Long Island. Young people at the start of their working careers cannot afford to purchase a home right away. Their options are limited to living in their parent's basement or in an illegal apartment, neither of which work for very long. A healthy housing stock for a region like ours would consist of 30 to 35 percent of rentals but overall Suffolk has just 18 percent rentals and this problem is more acute on the East End. We need more workforce housing, and concentrating rental projects in and around downtowns in proximity to train stations across Suffolk will provide the added benefit of these residents spending money locally at restaurants and other local businesses.

The immigrant workforce, legal and otherwise, is and has long been part of many East End industries like landscaping, construction, hospitality and farming. Do you support comprehensive immigration reform and how would you address the very volatile issue of curbside, undocumented hiring at the county level?

SB: I am the just the second generation Bellone that has grown up here in America, and it amazed me that someone like Lyle Wells - a Riverhead farmer I met over the course of the campaign whose family has farmed the same land since the 1600s - but for many of us my story is more likely the norm. All of the people here in Suffolk County are valuable and deserve opportunities. I am in favor of comprehensive immigration reform and will work with our federal delegation to make it a reality. Curbside hiring is controversial and we need to come together to address it, but we first need to eliminate unconstructive, overheated rhetoric that exaggerates our differences rather than arriving at a solution.

What is your position regarding the Shinnecock Nation's effort to gain the right to create a casino on their sovereign land?

SB: I support their efforts because of the tough economic times we are in but bringing gambling is a short-term solution to Suffolk's significant economic challenges. If we are to turn this economic around, we need to leverage the assets we have - research institutions, natural beauty - and make it easier for businesses to come and grow in Suffolk County rather than being distracted by the allure of gambling.

Finally, faith in our elected officials is at an all time low, what in your character, professional and personal background and legislative history qualifies you to earn the trust of the electorate and serve as Suffolk County Executive?

SB: It has been an honor to be elected by the people of Babylon as their Town Supervisor for the last 10 years. I have earned their trust and working together we have accomplished great things like the Long Island Green Homes program. Over the course of this campaign I have asked people in communities where I am not as well known, including the East End, to look what I have done in Babylon - reducing debt, streamlining government and making it more efficient, and cutting taxes. With your support, I will take that model to County government.