''I'm proud and grateful that Tom DiNapoli has stepped up to give Nassau County the leadership it needs and deserves,'' declared New York State Comptroller H. Carl McCall, as he led off a string of prominent endorsements for Assemblyman Thomas P. DiNapoli's run for Nassau County Executive at the Feb. 7, DiNapoli campaign kick-off rally at Hofstra University. Mr. McCall stated that ''Nassau County needs to change ... it is a national embarrassment.'' He vowed to ''work together'' with Mr. DiNapoli to ensure a win next November.

Also adding their support were New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Nassau County Legislature Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs and fellow legislators Patrick Williams, Joseph Scannell, Lisanne Altmann and Craig Johnson, Assemblyman David Sidikman, Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg, North Hempstead Town Supervisor May Newburger, North Hempstead Town Councilmember Tony D'Urso, North Hempstead Town Clerk Michelle Schimel, North Hempstead Receiver of Taxes Ann Galante, former Assemblywoman Barbara Patton, and former Assemblyman Jerry Kremer.

Ms. Jacobs spoke of how Tom DiNapoli has ''given repeatedly to everyone,'' and Ms. Altmann spoke of how he came to his post as Nassau County Democratic chair and ''he changed everything.'' Fellow legislators added their support, with Williams saying that he and Tom DiNapoli ''share the same vision for equal opportunity, a better quality of life for all people, inclusiveness, and everyone having a share of the pie.'' Scannell assured that the candidate ''cares deeply about Nassau County.''

Assemblyman Weisenberg stated that Tom DiNapoli has ''the total support of the Long Island delegation from Albany ... he will speak for us all.''

Supervisor Newburger touted Mr. DiNapoli's experience in government, his ''superb legislative work,'' the way he responds to the needs of the people, the way he ''gets along with the other side,'' his ability to ''articulate needs and get the message across, with truth, the way it is.'' She spoke of his intelligence, ''and above all his integrity.'' May Newburger promised to ''walk the county'' with Tom DiNapoli.

Attorney General Spitzer spoke of his ''abiding belief that Tom DiNapoli must be the next Nassau County Executive.'' The Attorney General said he is ''most impressed with his substance ... what he has accomplished ... with education, health care, the environment.'' And he stressed that Mr. DiNapoli ''has been there on the issues that matter.''

Mr. Silver, who noted that he will be glad to ''trust'' his five Nassau County grandchildren to Tom DiNapoli, stated ''you have a true gem in Tom DiNapoli.'' Mr. Silver said that the candidate is ''the sum of why men and women live here on Long Island.'' And he added that ''the Democratic Legislature and half of the Republicans'' would like to see Tom DiNapoli become Nassau County's next executive. ''There is no better person to rebuild the integrity of Nassau County government.''

Tom DiNapoli echoed the words of many of his supporters, telling the enthusiastic crowd, ''It's time to shake off the legacy of mismanagement, the nightmare of one party government that has brought us to the brink of fiscal collapse. It's time to complete the task begun when we elected a new majority to the county Legislature --- wake up Nassau County, they can't do it alone.''

A lifelong Nassau County resident --- ''It's been my family's home for three generations.'' --- Tom DiNapoli stated that he is committed to the race ''for one basic reason, the same reason and motivation that brought you here today ... we all want to be proud of the place we live.''

Mr. DiNapoli went on to speak of the people of Nassau County, saying that the county ''still has great potential ... I know because of the quality and talent of the people who live here.'' He stated that ''Nassau doesn't lack resources, the people don't lack resolve ... Nassau lacks leadership.'' And he stressed that he has that kind of leadership, ''... the kind of leadership needed to save Nassau County from collapsing under the weight of political posturing and financial gamesmanship.''

Listing the accomplishments of his successful career in the state assembly, Mr. DiNapoli said that he is even prouder of the ''way'' in which he has accomplished some important measures. ''I have brought together people from diverse backgrounds. I have negotiated divides between people of differing philosophies. I've forged relationships across partisan lines. And I have treated all concerned parties, not as obstacles to be overcome, but as stakeholders whose needs and interests should be taken seriously and reconciled.''

Ending, Mr. DiNapoli stated: ''Today, I am announcing my candidacy for county executive because I still remember the suburban dream of our parents and grandparents. As your next county executive I will work to return that dream to all of us.''

Besides the anticipated contest with a Republican candidate come November, Mr. DiNapoli will probably also be facing a primary for the Democratic nomination, as Glen Cove Mayor Thomas Suozzi has also announced that he is running for the Nassau County executive seat.