The Republican and Conservative Party candidate for Nassau County Executive, Bruce Bent, met with Anton Newspapers editors on Friday, June 8, to discuss his vision for the county and his understanding of the job. "The first issue is fiscal responsibility," he said. "We can't do anything about (fill in the blanks) until we get our house in order. And it's not astrophysics. It will take common sense and political will."

Mr. Bent, who has said that, if elected, he will work for a dollar a year, began the interview by stating that although he would work for a dollar a year, County Executive Thomas Gulotta's chauffeur is paid $140,000 annually. That's because he is a first-grade detective in the Nassau County Police Department. Mr. Bent cited that as the kind of waste he proposes to eliminate. He said that he would take a "corporate approach" to management, which means, among other things, to identify good people and motivate them. Mr. Bent has also said that he would be a one-term county executive. He seemed to back away from this position on Friday, when he said that, if he were to be asked, he would consider running for a second term, but that would be it. He said that he is a supporter of term limits.

Since his candidacy has been announced, he said that he has received many calls from county workers who tell him that they receive no guidance in their jobs. "People say that I'm accustomed to having things all my own way in my business," he said, "but it's not that way in business. You can't be a dictator." Communication, he said, is vital in running any operation.

Mr. Bent is a lifelong resident of Nassau County, having been born and educated in Great Neck and for many years a resident of Plandome. "I like Nassau," he said, "but I think it's unfortunate that we have this reputation of being a wealthy county, because everyone is not wealthy. People are working two jobs, not because they're Silas Marners but because, among other things, they see the clear and present danger of college tuitions." He believes that, with better management, it will be possible to balance the budget and still give Nassau residents the services they came here to enjoy.

He conceded that dealing with the unions is going to take work, but "NIFA (Nassau Interim Financial Authority) is not a figment of our imaginations. If the county does not solve its financial problems, NIFA could take over its management." Mr. Bent said, in reference to the county's biggest union, the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) that he would recommend bonuses for efficiency. "I've found that effective in my own company," he said.

Mr. Bent was asked about how he would deal with the police union. Mr. Gulotta has been severely criticized in the press for giving too many concessions and too much money to the police. In response to such criticism, he has responded that if he does not come to an agreement with the union, the contract goes to binding arbitration and he loses all possibility of negotiating givebacks. Mr. Bent said that he has been speaking to Governor George Pataki's office on the topic, and has been told that of the 62 counties in New York State, only Nassau is dissatisfied with the binding arbitration decreed by New York State law.

Asked about his vision for Nassau, beyond getting its financial house in order, Mr. Bent reiterated that nothing can be done until the financial situation is stabilized. "There are certainly things that have to be done," he said. "It's obvious that the parks need attention, and we'll give it to them as soon as we have the wherewithal. The roads must be repaired for people's safety, but major projects can't be undertaken."

One of the reporters asked him which services he would cut and he replied, "I never talked about cutting services. I want to find a more efficient and cost-cutting way to deliver services." A reporter asked him whether he would cut funding for day care centers. "I think day care centers are a great idea," he said, "helping people get off welfare." The reporter persisted, saying that Mr. Gulotta has cut social services. "At the moment, I'm an outsider," he replied. "The initial approach has to be to take a look at the status quo. We have to find the wherewithal to do more and I think we can find the money."

He pointed to the fact that the county assessor's office still uses typewriters rather than computers as a model of inefficiency. He was also critical of the county attorney's office (not of the incumbent) as an example of lack of leadership. "There's no career path there so you're not going to attract the people you need."

Asked by a reporter how long it would take to get the county's financial house in order, Mr. Bent said that if it were a business he believes he could do it in six months. "We have a tremendous opportunity here," he said, "but it's not a business."

Returning to his theme of communicating, Mr. Bent said that the first person he spoke to after he announced his candidacy was Judy Jacobs, the Democratic majority leader of the county legislature. He said he has also met with Fred Parola, the comptroller, Karen Murphy, the county clerk and Denis Dillon, the district attorney. "I'm trying to get a sense of these people. That's the way to run a business. You communicate."

One of the reporters asked if the candidate thought that town government should be eliminated and he replied in the negative. "Do I want the City of Nassau? No. I like the towns and I like living in a village. The more local government is, the more responsive it is. It's not always cheap, but you get what you pay for." He said, however, that there should be a reasonable amount of cooperation between county and town, town and village.

County Executive Gulotta is known for attending countless events in the county and having his photo taken with the day's honoree. "With me, there'll be few photo ops. Besides, my wife tells me I take a lousy picture. And there'll be no more proclamations. Personally, I like Tom," he went on. "He's a good politician and very personable, but that's not what I would get paid to do."

When a reporter asked why he would be a better candidate than the Democratic candidate, he replied that he has been a chief executive officer for more than 30 years. "I can make the tough political decisions," he concluded.