Tom Suozzi, Democratic candidate for Nassau County Executive and current mayor of Glen Cove, attorney and accountant, squared off against Bruce Bent, Republican candidate for Nassau County Executive, CEO of a multibillion-dollar organization known as The Reserve Funds, "America's First Money Market Fund," during a candidate's forum at the Garden City Community Church Sunday morning.

Each candidate spoke for approximately 15-18 minutes, explaining their qualifications for the job and what they'll do to turn Nassau County around and relieve it of its longtime economic problems. Their speeches were followed by a brief and well-organized question-and-answer period, moderated by Bob McMillan.

Reiterating his campaign theme, "I can do it because I've done it,"

Suozzi spoke proudly of his achievements in the City of Glen Cove's now bustling downtown area, including a new city hall. He said he's worked across party lines to improve the City of Glen Cove and will do it again as Nassau County Executive.

Promising to restore Nassau's image and break the culture of machine politics, Suozzi recalled almost eight years ago when he became mayor of the city he grew up in. Glen Cove was in financial disarray with a bond rating just above junk status. Today, as the most revitalized downtown area in all of New York State, Glen Cove's already impressive bond rating was upgraded again within the past few weeks. He's confident in his ability to stabilize Nassau because "it's the exact same stuff" he faced as mayor.

He revealed various phases of a savings plan for taxpayers, a plan he thinks could save residents $100 million through such measures as streamlining the police department, consolidating county real estate holdings and decreasing the workforce by eliminating positions in the county that currently are not filled while increasing productivity by rewarding exceptional job performances. "I've never let a grievance go to arbitration," he said. "I've negotiated with Glen Cove police officers who wanted steady tours and I've worked with the Civil Service Unit."

Suozzi believes simple management principles - creativity, innovation, hard work, bipartisanship and technology - will enable him to dig Nassau out of its financial ditch if elected to County Executive Nov. 6.

Honored this month by the American Museum of Financial History, in association with iMoneyNet and The Reserve Funds, Bent, co-creator of the world's first money market mutual fund, admitted he's not seeking the office of Nassau County Executive to advance a political career.

"I'm running solely to restore Nassau County's fiscal integrity, to protect and restore our county services and our environment and to save homeowners and taxpayers from financial disaster and threats of reduced home values and massive tax increases."

Vowing he'd work for $1 a year, Bent said business always challenged him and he paid attention to fiscal situations as a financial analyst. "We don't need a career politician who is going to be more interested in getting re-elected," he said.

"We need someone who's going to pay attention to the fiscal situation. Frankly, I'm appalled at the state of the county's finances. Nassau is one of the wealthiest places in the nation. It is ludicrous that our county government should be in such a financial mess."

If elected, Bent said he'd cut waste, control spending and restore honest leadership. "We need a fundamentally different approach," he said. "As a businessman and lifelong Nassau resident, I know we can get the county back on track by ending the stranglehold of the political back room."

When considering the position, Bent said he asked himself, "Is this something I can solve? Can I solve Nassau County's problems?" As a distinguished businessman, Bent said he knows how to make money work for people. "I've made a very successful career watching after other people's money as if it were my own." He vows to do the same in Nassau if elected Nov. 6.