Steve Bellone won his third and final term as Suffolk County executive. 

Bellone told News 12 that his administration was able to eliminate a $500 million debt that it inherited “while still protecting taxpayers.”

He also touted the reduction of the size of county government – cutting nearly 1,300 county positions from the payroll.

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The county executive defeated County Comptroller John Kennedy, who said Bellone ran a "vile" campaign that attacked his family.

"The people have spoken. We will go forward," he told News 12. 

 He said Suffolk is hundreds of millions of dollars in debt, was recently named the most financially stressed county in the state and still spends more money than it takes in.

“The ultimate irony is, we've done 25 to 30 audits indicating $15 million in misappropriation of funds and not one of the recommendations has he put in place. Not one,” says Kennedy.

This will be Bellone’s final term as county executive, due to term limit laws.